NORTHERN IRELAND

Organised Crime

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent successes there have been against organised crime in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: As chair of the Organised Crime Task Force, I pay tribute to the operational agencies for their many successes in the fight against organised crime. Let me quote just a few recent examples:
	On 9 January 2002, 8.4 million cigarettes were seized at Belfast docks. This success comes on top of the largest ever UK seizure of illegal cigarettes on 8 November 2001, when 42.5 million cigarettes were seized at Warrenpoint.
	In recent weeks, customs has seized 42,500 litres of illicit fuel in two operations—a fuel laundering plant in south Armagh and an illegal fuel storage bunker in County Tyrone.
	In the past two months alone, 12 people have been arrested for money-laundering or tax evasion offences and two for armed robberies; on 22 January two men were jailed for extortion offences.
	Such success demonstrates that the Government are determined to tackle organised crime activity wherever it rears its ugly head. While such activity is a regrettable part of Northern Ireland's past and present it cannot become part of the future.

Organised Crime

Iain Luke: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to tackle (a) extortion and (b) trade in counterfeit goods.

Jane Kennedy: In Northern Ireland we are seeking to tackle and confront extortion and trade in counterfeit goods through the co-ordinated efforts of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF) which I chair.
	The OCTF provides a multi-agency approach to tackling the range of organised criminal activity that exists in Northern Ireland, and to optimise our approach members are drawn from HM Customs and Excise, PSNI and NIO, as well as others.

Organised Crime

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on levels of crime arising from cross border smuggling.

Jane Kennedy: The Organised Crime Task Force has identified high levels of cross border smuggling. The details can be found in the task force's threat assessment for 2001–02. Good co-operation between the PSNI, the Garda and other agencies has resulted in a number of successes against smugglers. These successes include the seizure of 80 million cigarettes in Dundalk, and the seizure of 42,500 litres of fuel from a fuel laundering plant in South Armagh.

Terrorist Victims

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the Government have done to compensate victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support the Government have given to the victims of terrorist violence in Northern Ireland in the last five years.

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what support his Department is providing for victims of violence.

Des Browne: More than £1.5 billion has been spent in compensation for criminal injuries and damage since 1968–69. It is not possible to break these figures down into terrorist-related and other crime. We anticipate that this year the bills for criminal injuries and damage compensation to victims of crime in Northern Ireland will be £55 million and £9 million respectively.

Terrorist Victims

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action the Government are taking to assist people who have been the victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: Over £18.25 million has been allocated to support victims of the troubles in Northern Ireland: major elements include funding for the Northern Ireland memorial fund; funding for victims groups in Northern Ireland; support for the development of the Northern Ireland Centre for Trauma and Transformation; support for victims of the troubles living in Great Britain and a contribution towards the devolved Administration's strategy implementation fund.

Army Watch Towers

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the impact of the removal of army watch towers on the security situation since July 2001.

Jane Kennedy: After the act of decommissioning by PIRA, the reduced level of threat in October allowed the chief constable to make a number of further normalisation moves including the demolition of two towers in the south Armagh area. Intelligence-led policing and good cross border co-operation has resulted in a number of successes against the activities of dissident republicans. As a result of a continued lowering of the threat the chief constable announced on 22 January a further tranche of normalisation measures.

Police Recruitment

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on recruitment to the Northern Ireland police force.

Jane Kennedy: Over 150 new recruits, appointed on a 50 per cent. Catholic, 50 per cent. non-Catholic basis, have now taken up training posts with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and appointments are continuing. The first tranche of recruits will finish training in April 2002. It is encouraging to note that the most recent recruitment competition has attracted over 4,500 applicants, of whom an unprecedented proportion of 38 per cent. are Catholic.

Electoral Fraud

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are being put in place to prevent electoral fraud at the next election in Northern Ireland.

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are being put in place to prevent electoral fraud at the next election in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The next scheduled election in Northern Ireland is the Assembly election on 1 May 2003. It is our intention that all the measures proposed by the Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Bill, which will provide the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland with additional functions to address the problem of electoral fraud there, will be in force for that election.

War Graves

Martin Salter: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking to ensure that the graves of Ulster soldiers who died in the first world war are not affected by plans to extend Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

John Reid: I met a senior representative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on 11 December to express my concern that the building of a proposed third airport for Paris could affect a number of Somme war graves.
	The French authorities have not yet defined the final boundaries of the airfield for this airport, but have assured the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that all war graves in the area will be treated with the greatest respect.

Violent Crime

Sydney Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the level of violent crime during the past year.

Jane Kennedy: During the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001, 20,626 violent crimes were recorded in Northern Ireland, compared with 19,034 recorded in the same period the previous year. This represents an increase of 8.4 per cent. During the same period, the clearance rate for violent crime dropped from 56.2 per cent. to 40.9 per cent., a decrease of 15.3 per cent.
	Please note that the statistics for the calendar year 2001 are provisional and caution should therefore be exercised when comparing same with the previous year which are finalised.

Policing

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he next expects to meet representatives of the police and security services to discuss the policing situation.

Jane Kennedy: The Secretary of State meets regularly with the Chief Constable, the GOC and his senior security advisers when a range of security issues including policing are discussed.

US Co-operation

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is being provided by the United States Government and their agencies to assist the Police Service of Northern Ireland in combating crime.

John Reid: Both the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and I have on-going contact with a range of authorities on policing matters. My recent visit to the US gave me a particular opportunity to do this.
	I was especially interested to hear of the American approach to organised criminals and the mafia culture. Through the Organised Crime Task Force, we were already adopting the New York approach of establishing multi-agency groups to tackle specific crime problems or particular criminal gangs. The idea is simple but effective—identify the problem and put together the agencies who can tackle it.
	I am also delighted that joint FBI/PSNI training was restored in December by President Bush and I am convinced that this type of co-operation and training with US law enforcement agencies will contribute to our commitment of ensuring an effective and efficient police service in Northern Ireland.

Human Rights

Judy Mallaber: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent action the Government have taken to improve human rights in Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: The introduction of the Human Rights Act 1998 played a major role in safeguarding human rights throughout the UK as a whole, including Northern Ireland. The Human Rights Act puts human rights at the heart of policy making and operations for all public authorities and means that all public authorities, including courts and the police, must act compatibly with the convention rights. It gives further effect throughout the UK to the rights and freedoms set out in the ECHR and provides the basis for a new culture of rights and responsibilities.
	The Northern Ireland Act 1998 restricts the Northern Ireland Assembly's powers to ensure it can only pass legislation that is compatible with convention rights and requires all NI Ministers and Departments to act compatibly. The Act also created the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission whose remit includes making sure laws and practices conform to the European convention, promoting awareness of human rights and offering advice and guidance to individuals. The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is currently considering the scope for a Bill of Rights to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.
	The report of the Independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland (the Patten report) recommended that there should be a comprehensive programme of action to focus policing in Northern Ireland on a human rights based approach.
	The setting up in 2000 of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, an independent impartial police complaints system. This was set up under the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998.
	The Independent International Decommissioning Commission exists to remove the tools of terrorism, which has been the biggest source of denial of basic human rights in Northern Ireland over the past 30 years.
	The Criminal Justice Review Group recommended that human rights be made central to the justice system. In formulating their recommendations, the review group looked not only at the European convention on human rights, but also at 15 other international human rights standards and instruments. The entire review was drafted with these principles in mind.

Good Friday Agreement

Nick Palmer: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the economic and social impacts of the Good Friday agreement on Northern Ireland.

John Reid: The Belfast agreement has had a positive impact on many aspects of life in Northern Ireland. The economic and social benefits are perhaps some of the most noticeable to arise from the agreement. Increased investor confidence has led to growth in the retail, construction and manufacturing sectors, helping to keep the economy buoyant and unemployment at a low level. While at the same time, more young people are staying to make their way in Northern Ireland society, now rooted firmly in the principles of individual rights and equality of opportunity for all.

Good Friday Agreement

Malcolm Savidge: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what aspects of the Good Friday agreement remain to be implemented.

John Reid: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Mr. Casale), Official Report, columns 191–92.

Good Friday Agreement

Andy King: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in implementing the Belfast agreement in the last six months.

John Reid: Significant progress has been made. The devolved institutions are stabilising following the election of a new First and Deputy First Minster. The SDLP have signalled their support of the new policing arrangements, leading to the establishment of the Police Board and subsequent unanimous agreement by that board on a new badge for the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The IRA have carried out a significant act of decommissioning involving ammunition, arms and explosives. We must now build on these developments to ensure that the implementation of the agreement continues on all fronts.

Parades Commission

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will bring forward legislation to permit televising of meetings of the Parades Commission.

Jane Kennedy: We have no plans to legislate for the televising of internal meetings of the Parades Commission.
	The operation of the Parades Commission and the legislation under which it was established is currently being reviewed by Sir George Quigley.

Road Safety Campaigns

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent road safety campaigns the police service of Northern Ireland has mounted in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Road safety education is a key element of the PSNI strategy to reduce death and injuries on the roads. It forms an integral part of the PSNI community safety programme. The road safety message is delivered to schoolchildren ranging from Key Stage 1 (young primary) to Key Stage 4 (15 to 18 year-old).
	Because the driving behaviour of young male drivers is a matter of concern in Northern Ireland, the PSNI has developed a multi-agency roadsafe roadshow for Key Stage 4 schoolchildren. In addition to the police service, the fire service, various elements of the medical service, a voluntary group and seriously injured victims make contributions. The PSNI is currently developing a teaching resource pack to build upon the success of the roadsafe roadshow.

Decommissioning

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on decommissioning of terrorist weapons.

Jane Kennedy: The IICD reported on 23 October that it had witnessed the IRA putting a quantity of arms, ammunition and explosives completely beyond use. The IICD described this as a significant event. This move by the IRA was historic and gives the clearest possible signal that it is moving away from violence for good. It is imperative that we now see further progress in the transition away from violence. All paramilitary groups should now build on this very significant progress.

Real IRA

David Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to combat the Real IRA; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: There is a daily exchange of security information between the Garda and the RUC, and the security forces on both sides of the border co-operate frequently in planned and co-ordinated operations against the activities of dissident republicans. In the last year 42 dissidents have been arrested within the two jurisdictions.

Government Structures

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the legislative and Government structures and institutions operating in Northern Ireland.

John Reid: Since devolution in December 1999 local politicians have acted with great commitment, integrity and energy to represent their constituents' needs, and the needs of Northern Ireland more generally, in a fair and effective manner on issues of real concern to ordinary people. Since the election of a new First and Deputy First Minister last autumn the devolved institutions have continued to stabilise, which I believe demonstrates the widespread support that devolution has throughout Northern Ireland, on all sides of the community. In addition, the structures put in place to develop North-South co-operation continue to function smoothly. All of this contributes to the normalisation of politics and society in Northern Ireland—a development which the Government are committed to giving their wholehearted support.

Golden Jubilee

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in Northern Ireland.

John Reid: Responsibility for arrangements to celebrate Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee falls to the devolved Administration. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is co-ordinating plans for community celebrations throughout the Province. To date, over 300 events and projects have been planned.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to change the (a) departmental expenditure limit and (b) administration costs limit for 2001–02.

John Reid: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Northern Ireland Office DEL will be increased by £36,363,000 from £1,078,374,000 to £1,114,737,000 and the gross administration costs limits will be increased by £21,336,000 from £138,069,000 to £159,405,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 31,973 
			 New DEL 1,056,836 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 1,056,836 
			 Non-voted 0 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 4,390 
			 New DEL 57,901 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 57,901 
			 Non-voted 0 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	The DEL shown in the Main Estimate was overstated by £4,947,000;
	the take up of End Year Flexibility of £28,818,000 of which £16,896,000 relates to administration costs which cover prison officer redundancy payments, increased costs associated with elections in Northern Ireland, the Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Political Talks and Forensic Science Northern Ireland;
	the take up of Departmental Unallocated Provision of £9,767,000;
	net transfer £1,148,000 to the Northern Ireland Executive;
	net transfer of £2,217,000 to UK Departments which covers £2,200,000 to the Court Service for transferred functions, £213,000 to the Home Office for Criminal Cases Review Commission and £4,000 for our contribution to the Group European States Against Corruption, £33,000 to the Cabinet Office for fast streamers and £233,000 from Home Office Legal Advisers Branch;
	a virement of £1,700,000 to current from capital.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from:
	the take up of End Year Flexibility of £5,014,000;
	the take up of Departmental Unallocated Provision of £576,000;
	increase of £500,000 from Capital Modernisation Fund;
	a virement of £1,700,000 from capital to current.
	The increases will be offset by inter-departmental transfers charged to the DEL Reserve and will not therefore added to the planned total of public expenditure.
	The Departmental Expenditure Limit for the Northern Ireland Executive in 2001–02 will be increased by £244,287,000 from £5,758,005,000 to £6,002,283,000. The increases reflect:
	the take up of End Year Flexibility of £234,842,000;
	£4,426,000 in respect of the Capital Modernisation Fund;
	£4,278,000 in respect of Agri-Monetary Compensation;
	£1,893,000 for costs incurred in dealing with foot and mouth disease—of which £1,000,000 is in respect of Business Rate Relief, £398,000 Assistance for Rural Businesses and £495,000 for Charitable Match Funding;
	£164,000 for the Evidence Based Policy Fund;
	transfer of £50,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions;
	net transfer of £1,148,000 from the NIO;
	transfer of £2,130,000 to Department of Health;
	transfers of £284,000 to the Scottish Executive;
	transfer of £18,000 to the National Assembly for Wales;
	transfer of £25,000 to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency;
	transfer of £59,000 to the Inland Revenue;
	transfer of £7,000 to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
	These increases will be offset by a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

DEFENCE

Service Personnel (Recognition on Retirement)

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to recognise formally the contribution made by armed forces personnel at the point at which they retire from active service.

Adam Ingram: All service personnel can qualify for a long service and good conduct medal after 15 years of exemplary service, with a bar awarded after a further 15 years. Other medals are awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through exceptional service or bravery. There is no single arrangement in the armed forces for recognising service at the point of retirement though all three provide a certificate of the qualifications gained in service and, subject to the satisfactory completion of service, a character reference which can be used in seeking further employment. Those completing at least five years' service are also entitled to resettlement training which increases in recognition of greater length of service. As part of the Veterans' Initiative, and in cooperation with representatives of the veterans' organisations, we are also looking at the feasibility and merits of a "Veterans' Identity Card" which would allow recognition (and real benefits) of the special status of those who have given service to the country in the armed forces.

Fair Trade

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is in touch with the Department for International Development which leads on this issue and which is providing £120,000 to the Fair Trade Foundation over three years (2001–03) in support of its efforts to target new groups through its annual fair trade fortnight campaigns. We do not, however, have plans for direct participation in the event.

Defence Expenditure

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what UK defence expenditure was in each of the last 10 years, broken down by region and expressed as expenditure per head of population.

Adam Ingram: A breakdown of defence expenditure by region is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I have tasked my officials to examine the data held to see if a broad indication of regional expenditure can be provided.
	Information on UK defence expenditure for each of the last 10 years, and as expenditure per head of population, is outlined in the table.
	
		
			  Total UK Defence expenditure (£ million)(1) UK mid year resident population (£000)(2) UK Defence expenditure/head (£) 
		
		
			 1991–92 24,438 57,814 423 
			 1992–93 22,910 58,013 395 
			 1993–94 22,757 58,198 391 
			 1994–95 22,562 58,401 386 
			 1995–96 21,517 58,612 367 
			 1996–97 22,345 58,807 380 
			 1997–98 21,610 59,014 366 
			 1998–99 22,475 59,237 379 
			 1999–2000 22,549 59,501 379 
			 2000–01 23,538 59,756 394 
		
	
	(1) UK defence expenditure figures are the "Adjusted Defence budget" taken from table 1.3 of UK Defence Statistics 2001. The figures are VAT inclusive and at current prices. The "Adjusted Defence Budget" takes account of major definitional changes in defence spending and of major transfers of responsibility to and from Government Departments to provide figures on a consistent basis. Figures exclude receipts from the sale of the married quarters estate that were appropriated onto the defence votes.
	(2) UK mid-year population estimates are taken from table 2.1 of the Office for National Statistics' "Monthly Digest of Statistics—January 2002".

Afghanistan

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what continuing role he plans for the armed forces in Afghanistan.

Geoff Hoon: We have made our campaign objectives clear, including to bring Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda to justice and to ensure that the link between Afghanistan and terrorism is broken for good. The United Kingdom is also contributing to, and currently leading, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul.
	So far, some 1,700 British troops have deployed to Kabul out of a total of about 3,500 troops from 15 countries. Although we plan to hand over command of the ISAF by the end of April and reduce the number of British troops involved, we will continue to contribute to the force. We will also continue to support the Coalition's efforts under Operation Enduring Freedom to deal with the surviving al-Qaeda and Taliban remnants in Afghanistan.

TSC 503 Satellite System

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the introduction of the TSC 503 satellite system.

Lewis Moonie: The UK's TSC 503 satellite system provides a transportable satellite communications ground terminal system compatible with UK Skynet, NATO and US military satellites.
	The TSC 503 terminal system has a significantly increased data transfer capability compared to the current SATCOM terminals.
	So far, about half the terminals have been delivered and training of service personnel is taking place. Full operational capability is planned by the end of this year.

Army Establishment

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Army is manned to peace establishment.

Adam Ingram: The strength of the whole Army (as at 1 January 2002) is around 94 per cent. of the current peacetime unit establishment requirement.

British Forces Post Office (Afghanistan)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 13W, on Afghanistan, if he will publish the reduced rates under the BFPO number registered for parcels to be sent to Afghanistan; and what is the average number of deliveries of post per month to BFPO numbers relating to Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: The BFPO numbers applicable to operations in Afghanistan are BFPO 767 Muscat and BFPO 768 Thumrait, BFPO 761 Shalalah having closed on 21 January.
	Mail is flown from the UK to Muscat six times per week whence it is carried by road, a two hour journey, to Thumrait. Mail for Kabul is then flown from Thumrait daily by the Royal Air Force. A total of 1,000 kg per day is despatched to Muscat and 475 kg per day forwarded to Kabul. As this is a recent service monthly averages are not available.
	A full parcels service (up to 30 kg) is not available, but small packets up to 2 kg are sent at a maximum cost of £6.56.

Premature Voluntary Release

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many PVR applications have been made by personnel from (a) 5, (b) 11, (c) 25, (d) 43 and (e) 111 Squadrons in each of the past five years.

Adam Ingram: The number of applications for premature voluntary release from the RAF Air Defence Squadrons, in each of the last five years is shown as follows:
	
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02(3) 
		
		
			 5 Squadron  
			 Officers 2 0 1 0 0 
			 Airmen 3 2 2 8 5 
			   
			 11 Squadron  
			 Officers 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Airmen 0 4 2 2 5 
			   
			 25 Squadron  
			 Officers 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Airmen 2 4 6 5 4 
			   
			 43 Squadron  
			 Officers 3 0 1 1 0 
			 Airmen 3 6 5 3 6 
			   
			 111 Squadron  
			 Officers 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Airmen 4 2 2 7 7 
		
	
	(3) Figures up to 1 January 2002

Departmental Bodies (Security)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action will be taken against those departmental bodies which fail to take adequate security measures in their establishments.

Lewis Moonie: Depending on the circumstances of the case, a range of informal, formal, administrative, disciplinary and even criminal options would be considered and pursued as appropriate.
	A range of control processes is in place to ensure that adequate security measures are taken. There is a regime of security surveys, inspections and audits operating in the Ministry of Defence. Standards and policy are set centrally, with advice and guidance provided to departmental bodies to enable them to carry out their security responsibilities.

Pilots

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) establishment pilot posts and (b) pilots there are in (i) 5, (ii) 11, (iii), 25, (iv), 43 and (v) 111 Squadrons.

Adam Ingram: The table details the number of established pilot posts and the number of pilots there are in 5 Squadron, 11 Squadron, 25 Squadron, 43 Squadron and 111 Squadron. These figures are as at 31 December 2001.
	
		
			 Squadron Establishment Current manning 
		
		
			 5 18 12 
			 11 18 13 
			 25 18 14 
			 43 19 15 
			 111 19 16

MOD Security (Private Contractors)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been made by the Ministry of Defence to private defence contractors on increasing security measures.

Lewis Moonie: The Ministry of Defence does not provide defence contractors with advice on security measures. This is the responsibility of the Security Service who, for those contractors undertaking particularly sensitive contracts, provide oversight and advice on specific threats and counter-measures.

MOD Security (Private Contractors)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made in the use of private security contractors to guard Ministry of Defence establishments since 11 September.

Lewis Moonie: Since the events of 11 September 2001 there has been no change to the Ministry of Defence policy for the use of private security contractors to provide unarmed guarding to some parts of the Defence Estate.

MOD Security (Private Contractors)

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many private security contractors are employed in guarding Ministry of Defence establishments; and if he will list them.

Lewis Moonie: There are 16 private security contractors employed in unarmed guarding of the Ministry of Defence establishments. They are:
	Initial Security Ltd.
	Tyco (formerly known as Thorn)
	Reliance Security Ltd.
	Legion Security plc
	Chubb Guarding Services Ltd.
	Serco
	Securicor Guarding Ltd.
	RCO Support Services Ltd.
	Galago Ltd.
	Centuryan Security Ltd.
	Medway Ports
	Securitas (UK) Ltd.
	Dardan Security Ltd.
	ISS Support Services Ltd.
	Securi-Guard Ltd.
	Solo Security Services Ltd.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much has been spent on timber for the refurbishment of the MOD building;
	(2)  what action was taken by his Department to ensure that timber procured for the refurbishment of the MOD Building was sourced (a) sustainably and (b) legally;
	(3)  how much certified timber has been used in the refurbishment of the MOD building; and what proportion of the total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents.

Lewis Moonie: The minimum amount of timber will be used in the project so as to comply with current industry (notably fire) standards. The total cost is estimated by the construction contractor to be in the region of £500,000.
	Ministry of Defence policy is that all timber or timber products should be procured from sustainable and legal sources. This is reflected in the PFI contract with Modus Services plc for the redevelopment of Main Building and is in turn in Modus's contract with the construction contractor, Skanska Whitehall.
	All timber used in the redevelopment will therefore be from a certified sustainable source.

HMS Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will commission a ship named HMS Coventry.

Adam Ingram: There are many worthy and suitable names deserving of recognition when consideration is given to naming ships. Although there are no immediate plans to use this name, Coventry with her six antecedents and 10 battle honours will certainly merit consideration in the future.

QinetiQ

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to remove Ministry of Defence police from QinetiQ establishments before the organisation's proposed flotation.

Lewis Moonie: The Defence Police Federation (DPF) has been consulted concerning the proposal to withdraw the Ministry of Defence police officers from three QinetiQ operated sites: Pendine, Shoeburyness and West Freugh. The consultation was concluded on 25 January 2002, and the withdrawal date has been provisionally set for 31 July 2002. However, I have agreed to meet with representatives of the DPF to discuss this on 12 March.

Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft project.

Adam Ingram: The Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) is planned to replace the RAF's fleet of VC10 and TriStar air to air refuelling/air transport aircraft towards the end of the decade. The current fleet is based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. Bids for this prospective PFI programme were received from two consortia in July 2001. Both bidders have proposed the continued use of RAF Brize Norton as the main operating base for the FSTA fleet and our negotiations with them are proceeding on this basis. Subject to satisfactory progress in these negotiations, we expect to decide later this year whether PFI offers the best value for money and, if it does, which of the two consortiums is our preferred bidder.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Expenditure (Publications)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the expenditure of her Department on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in each of the last four years.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland Office was established in its present form on 1 July 1999.
	In the period 1 July 1999 to 31 March 2000, the cost of newspapers, magazines and periodicals purchased centrally by the Department was £9,096. In 2000–01, the cost was £13,639.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit in 2001–02 will be accounted for by salary costs and pension contributions.

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans she has to change the Scotland departmental expenditure limits for 2001–02.

Helen Liddell: The Scotland departmental expenditure limit (DEL) will be reduced by £76,755,000 from £17,173,692,000 to £17,096,937,000.
	The DEL reduction takes account of the following:
	a reduction of £50,000,000 arising from the Scottish Transport Group pension disbursement;
	a reduction of £32,000,000 to offset a draw forward of EU structural funds agreed in the previous year;
	a reduction of £1,000,000 following a revision to the capital modernisation fund allocation announced in the winter supplementary estimate;
	an increase of £3,000,000 for the active communities initiative;
	an increase of £13,804,000 for costs relating to the Lockerbie trial;
	an increase of £661,000 for some additional policing in the wake of 11 September;
	an increase of £600,000 to support tourism following foot and mouth disease;
	an increase of £1,235,000 for rural business recovery;
	increases of £1,528,000 from match funding for charitable donations to the Addington fund for foot and mouth disease.
	The DEL reduction also includes the following transfers to and from other Government Departments, amounting to a net reduction of £11,883,000. These are:
	net transfers of £84,000 from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES);
	net transfers of £8,540,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA);
	a transfer of £1,075,000 from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP);
	a transfer of £73,000 to the National Assembly for Wales;
	net transfers of £4,696,000 from the Home Office;
	a transfer of £284,000 from the Northern Ireland Executive;
	net transfers of £26,489,000 to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.
	All of these changes relate to the resource budget, and the capital budget of £100,000 is unchanged.
	An addition to the Scotland DEL for 2002–03 of £13,619 million will be made in respect of adjustments allowed for in the statement of funding policy, in relation to the impact of local authorities' decisions regarding council tax and rents on council tax rebate for 2000–01 and 2001–02.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Ishtiaq Ahmed

Harry Cohen: To ask the Solicitor-General for what reason the Crown Prosecution Service is citing public interest immunity as a ground for not disclosing a document requested in the case of Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed, HMP Coldingley; and if he will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: The case of Mr. Ishtiaq Ahmed is presently before the Court of Appeal following a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. A directions hearing is scheduled to take place on 21 February 2002. The court will deal with the question of disclosure when it gives directions on the future conduct of the case.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

Appointments Commission (Roadshows)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the President of the Council when the House of Lords Appointments Commission will announce the timetable for the next round of roadshows and destinations.

Robin Cook: The Appointments Commission is still considering its timetable for regional events, and will make an announcement as soon as it has reached a decision.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when she last met officials from the UN regarding the Global Fund for AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Hilary Benn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development meets regularly with representatives of the UN and its specialised agencies to discuss a range of issues, including progress on the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM). My officials have been instrumental in getting the fund set up effectively and have worked in close co-operation with WHO, UNAIDS and many others. The UK has a seat on the GFATM board along with WHO and UNAIDS who are both ex officio members.

Afghanistan

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of levels of tuberculosis in the Badghis province of Afghanistan; and what action is being taken to treat those with tuberculosis.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development is not aware of any quantitative assessment by humanitarian agencies of levels of tuberculosis in Badghis province. However as one of the most vulnerable regions of Afghanistan, levels of communicable diseases such as tuberculosis are likely to be significant.
	My Department has allocated significant funds to agencies working to improve disease surveillance and the provision of emergency health supplies, while assisting the rehabilitation of health facilities—in particular to build up the capacity of the Afghan Interim Administration's Ministry of Public Health. This includes £5 million to the World Health Organisation, £8 million to UNICEF, £5 million to the Red Cross movement, as well as support to local and international non-governmental organisations.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action was taken by her Department to ensure that timber procured for the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace street was sourced (a) sustainably and (b) legally.

Hilary Benn: The contractual documentation as specified by my Department for the refurbishment work on 1 Palace street, included our standards for the use of sustainable sources of hardwood, timber products and plywood. This required all such procurement to be carried out in accordance with standards set by the Building Research Environmental Evaluation Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) in relation to materials and the environmental implications of materials selection.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much has been spent on timber for the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace Street.

Hilary Benn: Approximately £350,000 was spent on timber as part of this refurbishment.

Timber

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much certified timber has been used in the recent refurbishment of the International Development building on 1 Palace Street; and what proportion of total timber purchased for this refurbishment this represents.

Hilary Benn: The following volumes of timber were used in the project.
	
		
			  Volume 
		
		
			 Softwood carcassing timber 6,000m 
			 Softwood plaster grounds 2,500m 
			 Veneered doors 590 
			 Softwood timber battens 2,800m 
			 Protection boards 1,250 
			 Battens to protection 8,000m 
			 Miscellaneous timber 1,100m 
		
	
	Of the above, around 98 per cent. was certified. The remainder represents a small number of hardwood doors, which we were required to use within the Grade II listed section of the building under the relevant planning regulations. These doors were obtained from existing stocks from managed forests.

EU Overseas Development Assistance

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much per year has been spent in euros at current exchange rates on overseas development assistance as defined by the DAC by (a) the EU and (b) the EU and the 15 member states, in each of the last five years.

Hilary Benn: The latest available data on the EC and the member states' overseas development assistance (oda) are for 2000. The data show a slight increase in EU-wide ODA flows despite a gradual decline in the European Commission's ODA expenditure.
	
		Total net ODA (ecu/euro current prices) -- Billion
		
			  EC EC + member states 
		
		
			 1996 ecu 5.7 ecu 19.9 
			 1997 ecu 5.5 ecu 19.8 
			 1998 ecu 5.4 ecu 19.8 
			 1999 euro 5.2 euro 20.4 
			 2000(4) euro 4.5 euro 21.4 
		
	
	(4) Provisional.
	Source:
	OECD DAC online database.

TREASURY

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 515W, how many of the 28 prosecutions for tax credit fraud concerned tax credits obtained to the value of (a) less than £1,000, (b) £1,000 to £4,999, (c) £5,000 to £9,999 and (d) more than £10,000; and if he will give the same breakdown for the seven prosecutions which resulted in a custodial sentence.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is as follows:
	Prosecutions:
	(a) less than £1,000—nil
	(b) £1,000 to £4,999—20
	(c) £5,000 to £9,999—5
	(d) more than £10,000—3
	Custodial sentences:
	(a) less than £1,000—nil
	(b) £1,000 to £4,999—2
	(c) £5,000 to £9,999—2
	(d) more than £10,000—3.

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of applications for tax credits have been identified as high risk for fraud or non- compliance by the Inland Revenue since the inception of tax credits; and how many of the applications so identified turn out to be fraudulent or non-compliant.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 5 February 2002
	Since the introduction in October 1999 of working families tax credit (WFTC) and disabled person's tax credit (DPTC), 60,614 applications were identified as being appropriate for further investigation up to December 2001. This equates to around 1 per cent. of the total number of applications received for tax credits during the same period. From this number, 9,665 investigations proved instances of fraudulent/non-compliant activity.

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much compensation has been (a) paid and (b) ordered to be paid as a result of the prosecutions for working families tax credit fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: Three compensation orders have been made by the courts, totalling £6,020. There has also been one confiscation order, to the value of £100,000.

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place for the mutual exchange of relevant information with overseas authorities regarding tax credit fraud.

Dawn Primarolo: The United Kingdom has a number of agreements with overseas authorities allowing the exchange of information relating to tax or social security matters. Where relevant, such information can be used to combat tax credit fraud.

Tax Credits (Fraud)

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 31 January 2002, Official Report, column 515W, how many of the seven custodial sentences were for (a) less than six months, (b) six to 12 months and (c) more than 12 months; and what the length of the longest custodial sentence was.

Dawn Primarolo: Of the seven custodial sentences: (a) three were for less than six months; (b) there were none between six and 12 months; and (c) the remaining four sentences were for over 12 months. The longest sentence was for two and a half years.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Ian Stewart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to amend the Office for National Statistics departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Ruth Kelly: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Office for National Statistics DEL will be increased by £495,000 from £197,350,000 to £197,845,000 and the administration costs limits will be increased by £6,540,000 from £184,631,000 to £191,171,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 6,540,000 
			 New DEL 191,970,000 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 191,118,000 
			 Non-voted 852,000 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change -6,045,000 
			 New DEL 5,875,000 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 5,875,000 
			 Non-voted 0 
		
	
	The increase in the resource element of the DEL is due to two factors. Firstly, there is a transfer of £6,000,000 from Capital DEL to Resource DEL so that ONS has the appropriate level of cover in the budget to meet this year's spending pressures.
	Secondly, a transfer to ONS of £585,000 administration costs from the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit in relation to work to develop the Neighbourhood Statistics programme is partially offset by a transfer of £45,000 administration costs from ONS to the Department for Education and Skills in respect of data development work associated with the same programme.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from the £6,000,000 transfer to Resource DEL referred to above. It also includes a transfer of £45,000 capital from ONS to the Department for Education and Skills in respect of data development work associated with the Neighbourhood Statistics programme.
	An increase of £5,108,000 of Annually Managed Expenditure is required in respect of provision for early retirement costs.
	The net increase in the DEL will be offset by transfers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Barbara Follett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to change HM Customs and Excise departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Paul Boateng: The HM Customs and Excise DEL will be reduced by £30,000 from £1,128,571,000 to £1,128,541,000 and the administration costs limit reduced by £30,000 from £950,783,000 to £950,753,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table.
	
		£ 
		
			  Resource Capital 
		
		
			 Change -30,000 — 
			 New DEL 1,038,529,000 90,012,000 
			 Of which:   
			 Voted 1,033,529,000 89,012,000 
			 Non-voted 5,000,000 1,000,000 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from a decrease in administration costs of £30,000 transferred to DEFRA in respect of the CAP export licensing Invest to Save Budget.
	There is therefore, no addition to the planned total of public expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are to change HM Treasury's departmental expenditure limits and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Ruth Kelly: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary, HM Treasury's DEL will be increased by £3,020,000 from £244,845,000 to £247,865,000 and the administration costs limits will be increased by £1,000,000 from £106,689,000 to £107,689,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		£ 
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change 1,020 2,000 
			 New DEL 230,788 17,077 
			 Of which:   
			 Voted 201,417 16,777 
			 Non-voted 29,371 300 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from the take up of administration costs EYF (£1,000,000) to meet the additional costs of the Treasury's planned programme of work, including set-up costs for the investment in the Troika insurance company and the funding of the PUK call-off contract; take up of programme costs EYF (£100,000) to meet the increased demand for UK coins; and a transfer of £80,000 programme expenditure from the OGC to the National Assembly for Wales for an e-pilot project the NAW is carrying out on behalf of the OGC.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from a further reclassification of programme expenditure EYF to capital provision (£2,000,000) for the service relating to the indemnity and insurance cover HM Treasury has offered to aviation companies in the wake of the events of 11 September. The cover is in the form of a loan note with the Troika Insurance Company Ltd.
	The increases will be offset by a change to the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Student Loans

Tony Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will change the rules governing entitlement to working families tax credit so that student loans are not counted as income.

Dawn Primarolo: We have no plans to disregard completely student loans within working families tax credit.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the administrative cost of the transfer of functions to the Treasury and the Inland Revenue under the provisions of clauses 45 and 46 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: The transfer of child benefit to the Inland Revenue will provide parents with a more streamlined system of support, by ensuring child benefit and the new child tax credit are run by a single organisation.
	There will be only minor changes in child benefit rules when responsibility moves to the Inland Revenue and existing staff and IT systems will be transferred. We anticipate that the administrative costs of transfer will be minimal.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans he has to keep a record of the persons falling within the provisions of subparagraph 2(b) of paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill who may be supplied with information relating to tax credits, child benefit or guardian's allowance for health; and if he plans to make the record publicly available;
	(2)  what functions relating to health he expects to be prescribed under the provisions of subparagraph 2 of paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill; and when he expects draft regulations to be available.

Dawn Primarolo: The provisions of paragraph 9 of Schedule 5 will allow the Inland Revenue to provide information to the Department of Health and equivalent Departments within Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and persons providing services to those departments to enable them to carry out the functions specified in the Tax Credits Bill. Information will be provided to assist them in identifying families on low income who are entitled to free access to certain health services.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlay the decision to transfer the functions of the Department for Work and Pensions in respect of child benefit and guardian's allowance to the Treasury under clause 45 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: The Prime Minister announced in June last year the transfer to the Treasury and Inland Revenue of responsibility for child benefit and guardian's allowance, after careful consideration of the best way to administer support for children when the new tax credit for families with children is introduced.
	We believe that parents will get the best service if a single organisation administers child benefit and guardian's allowance alongside the child tax credit. The Social Security Select Committee supported this view in their second report on the integrated child credit published on 22 March 2001

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of paragraph 2 of Schedule 4 of the Tax Credits Bill (as amended) on the amount of overpaid child benefit and guardian's allowance which is recovered.

Dawn Primarolo: The power to recover overpayments of child benefit by deduction from other benefits is used in only a small minority of cases. It is estimated that removing this power will have a minimal effect on recoveries of overpaid child benefit.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effects of the provisions of (a) Clause 52 and (b) Clause 53 of the Tax Credits Bill on the number of persons receiving child benefit.

Dawn Primarolo: The current estimate is that the numbers affected by these provisions will be minimal.
	The purpose of these changes is to make some minor adjustments to the rules on entitlement to child benefit, in order to align the rules with those proposed for child tax credit.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to consult (a) employers and (b) other interested parties on the issuing of notices by the Board of the Inland Revenue under Clause 42 of the Tax Credits Bill (as amended).

Dawn Primarolo: Informal consultation with employers and other groups is continuing on a range of points relating to the introduction of the new tax credits, including the issue of notices by the Inland Revenue.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he expects the provisions of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill to be used in tackling fraud and non-compliance.

Dawn Primarolo: Yes. Schedule 5 to the Bill enables information provided to, or by, the Inland Revenue to be used to provide a joined-up service to claimants, and to help tackle fraud and non-compliance.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the effects of the transfer of the functions of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions under Section 80 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to him as a result of subsection (1)(c) of Clause 45 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: This provision, part of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, provides the Secretary of State with the power to make regulations to offset payments akin to child benefit paid in another member state against child benefit paid for the same child in the UK. The power under the Act is not currently exercised. In common with the other functions relating to policy on entitlement to child benefit, the tax credits Bill transfers the power, which relates solely to child benefit, to the Treasury.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance he plans to give to the Board of the Inland Revenue or any person providing services to it about the use and disclosure of information under the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: Staff responsible for pooling information under these provisions will have clear instructions and adequate training to ensure that such pooling is within the scope of the provisions, and meets the twin objectives of providing a joined-up service to customers and countering non-compliance.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many staff he expects to be employed by the Treasury in order to discharge the functions transferred to it under Clause 45 of the Tax Credits Bill; and how many staff he expects to be transferred to the Treasury from (a) the Department for Work and Pensions and (b) the Northern Ireland Office as a result of Clause 45;
	(2)  how many staff he expects to be employed by the Inland Revenue in order to discharge the functions conferred on it by Clause 46 of the Tax Credits Bill; and how many staff he expects to be transferred to the Inland Revenue from (a) the Child Benefit Centre, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) the Northern Ireland Office as a result of this provision.

Dawn Primarolo: Currently around 2,200 staff in the Department for Work and Pensions, Child Benefit Centre in Great Britain and 150 staff in the Department for Social Development, Child Benefit Office in Northern Ireland work on the administration of child benefit. To ensure that their expertise is not lost on the transfer of responsibilities, these staff will move to the Inland Revenue.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Inland Revenue has for training those who will discharge the appellate functions transferred to it under the provisions of Clause 46 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: The Tax Credits Bill transfers responsibility for the administration of child benefit to the Board of Inland Revenue. However, child benefit will remain a social security benefit and any appeals relating to child benefit decisions will continue to be heard under the existing arrangements—in the first instance, by the Appeals Service.
	The Government will, of course, ensure that members of appeal tribunals continue to receive training to allow them to discharge their responsibilities appropriately.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make regulations under Clause 54 of the Tax Credits Bill in relation to the carrying out of functions relating to tax credit, child benefit and guardian's allowance by job centre staff other than those in a Jobcentre Plus.

Dawn Primarolo: My officials are working closely with those in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland to ensure that any regulations to be made under clause 54 of the Tax Credits Bill will allow all appropriate staff, regardless of the administrative framework within which they work, to carry out specified functions relating to tax credits, child benefit and guardian's allowance.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the IT systems of (a) the Inland Revenue, (b) the Department for Work and Pensions and (c) the Northern Ireland Office concerned in the use of information under the provisions of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill.

Dawn Primarolo: The relevant Departments are already working to ensure that information can be exchanged as necessary between their respective IT systems.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to keep a record of persons falling within the provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill who may be supplied with information relating to tax credits, child benefit or guardian's allowance.

Dawn Primarolo: The provisions of sub-paragraph (2) of paragraph 10 of Schedule 5 will allow the Inland Revenue to provide information held in relation to child benefit to the Department for Education and Skills, and persons providing services to that Department, to enable them to carry out the functions specified in the Bill. This will enable the new 'Connexions Service' to identify and assist young people who need help in finding alternative work, education or training.
	The provision replicates a power provided in the Learning and Skills Act 2000.

Tax Credits Bill

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to keep a record of persons providing services to the Inland Revenue in connection with the provision of tax credits who fall within the provisions of paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 5 of the Tax Credits Bill; and if he plans to make the record publicly available.

Dawn Primarolo: The provisions about persons providing services to the Inland Revenue enable the Inland Revenue's IT partners to pool information for Inland Revenue purposes in the same way as that information could be pooled if it was held directly by the Inland Revenue itself. Information about major companies providing services to the Inland Revenue, such as its IT partners, is already publicly available.

NIRS2

David Willetts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent so far on rectifying the problems with the NIRS2 computer system, broken down by year.

Dawn Primarolo: Payments for the NIRS2 computer system have been made in accordance with the contract. This includes any reduction attributable to service failure. No additional charges have been incurred for rectifying problems with NIRS2.

Share Option Taxation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the changes made to the taxation of share options since 1 May 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 4 February 2002
	Employee share schemes are at the centre of the Government's productivity and enterprise agenda. Since 1 May 1997 we have made the following changes to encourage greater use of share schemes and to ensure flexibility and fairness in the tax treatment of employee share options.
	Finance Act 1998: extension of the definition of "long options" from seven to 10 years.
	6 April 1999: alignment of national insurance treatment of share options with the PAYE rules. The Social Security Act 1998 introduced an amendment to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.
	Finance Act 2000: introduction of Enterprise Management Incentives to help small companies recruit and retain the staff they need to grow.
	28 July 2000: introduction of a concession to allow employers to agree with their employee option holders that the latter would bear the whole or part of the employer's national insurance charge on exercise of their options. The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000.
	Finance Act 2001: improvements to the Enterprise Management Incentives.
	From 11 May 2001: a further concession to allow companies which had granted options between April 1999 and May 2000 to cap their NIC liabilities. The Social Security Contributions (Share Options) Act 2001.
	1 January 2002: Statutory Instrument 3799/2001 doubled the gross asset test for companies to qualify for Enterprise Management Incentives from £15 million to £30 million.

Millionaires

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of millionaires in the UK in each year since 1990.

Dawn Primarolo: The available information is as follows:
	
		Number of UK millionaires
		
			  Thousand 
		
		
			 1995 80 
			 1996 100 
			 1997 140 
			 1998 (5)160 
			 1999 (5)180 
		
	
	(5) Provisional
	The figures are based on marketable wealth and include all assets but exclude occupational and state pension rights.

Means-tested Benefits

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of people in receipt of a means-tested benefit also paid tax in each of the last six years.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Proportion of people in receipt of a means-tested benefit who also paid tax
		
			 Year Percentage 
		
		
			 1995–96 31 
			 1996–97 32 
			 1997–98 28 
			 1998–99 28 
			 1999–2000 24 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. These estimates are based on sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors for region, council tax band and a number of demographic variables. Estimates are subject to sampling error and variability because of non-respondents.
	2. The means tested benefits included in the table are income support, jobseeker's allowance (income based), housing benefit, council tax benefit, family credit (working families tax credit from October 1999), and disability working allowance (disabled persons tax credit from October 1999).
	3. Information is not yet available for 2000–01.
	Source:
	Family Resources Survey

TRANSPORT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THE REGIONS

Train Routes (London)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action is being taken to encourage local authorities in partnership with business operators and Transport for London to develop proposals for new train routes.

David Jamieson: Responsibility for developing proposals for new train routes rests with the Strategic Rail Authority and Transport for London. Local authorities, business operators and other interests are consulted in that process.

Bus and Rail Integration

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make it his policy to allow bus companies to co-ordinate their services to improve integration of bus services with rail services.

John Spellar: holding answer 17 January 2002
	A number of operators already provide co-ordinated bus services that connect with rail services, and offer through tickets to cover the combined bus and rail journey. This is something that we wish to encourage and I understand from the Office of Fair Trading that there is no reason under competition legislation why a bus operator should not schedule its services so as to co-ordinate with train timings.
	The Government are committed to delivering better integration between different modes of transport in order to ensure long-term improvements for the travelling public. We expect to see further progress towards integration between modes as a result of the increased investment provided under our 10-year plan for transport.

Central Railway

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will place in the Library a copy of the Strategic Rail Authority's conclusions of its high-level review of the Central Railway Company's proposals.

John Spellar: holding answer 21 January 2002
	The Strategic Rail Authority's view is currently being considered by Ministers.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list the people working on the development of a company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack;
	(2)  what professional advisers have been recruited to advise the team developing the company limited by guarantee to bid for Railtrack; and on what terms.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) is funding the bid costs of CLG team and their advisers. These include Ian McAllister, Adrian Montague and Iain Coucher, UBS Warburg, Linklaters and Alliance, Jarvis Rail and Arup. The bid team will draw on other expertise and advice as it deems necessary.

Railtrack

John Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on compensation for Railtrack shareholders, indicating how much compensation will be paid and when payment will be made.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 30 January 2002 to the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire (Mr. Page), Official Report, columns 320–21W. The timing of any payment would form part of the arrangements for ending administration.

Railtrack

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether it is his policy that Railtrack and its successor will have to operate within existing budgets established for Control Period 2.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 861W.

Plymouth-London Rail Service

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the Strategic Rail Authority about making a three-hour journey time between Plymouth and London a strategic objective within the 10-year plan.

David Jamieson: The Strategic Rail Authority's strategic plan sets out how it will deliver the key rail targets as set out in the Government's 10-year plan. Schemes that will benefit the south-west can be found on the SRA website at www.sra.gov.uk.

Transport Statistics (Deaths)

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the statistics for death for each mode of transport for (a) the EU and (b) this country measured by (i) distance covered and (ii) time spent travelling (A) now, (B) five years ago and (C) 10 years ago.

David Jamieson: The information is not readily available in the form requested. Some information is available on fatality rates per passenger kilometre. Figures for GB are published in the 'Transport Statistics Great Britain' series. Figures for the EU are published in the 'EU Energy and Transport Figures, Statistical Pocketbook' series. However different definitions and methodologies may mean that they are not directly comparable.

Strategic Rail Authority

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the answer of 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 863W, on the Strategic Rail Authority, how much money has been allocated in total; and on what basis it will be allocated and in which financial year.

John Spellar: holding answer 30 January 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to my answers to him on 8 January 2002, Official Report, columns 323–24W and 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 729W.
	The Strategic Rail Authority has discretion, within its total funding provision, to allocate funds to mitigate commercial risk. The total funds used for that purpose will not be known until individual negotiations on special purpose vehicles are concluded.

Coastguard Helicopters

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many helicopters are based at each coastguard station south of a line from the Wash to Liverpool Bay; and what the target response times are for coastguard helicopters.

David Jamieson: Declared Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters are strategically located around the United Kingdom according to coverage requirements; they are not based at coastguard stations although some are based close to them. South of a line from the Wash to Liverpool Bay, SAR helicopters are based at:
	
		
			 Base  Hours standby 
		
		
			 Wattisham, Suffolk MOD—RAF 24 
			 Lee on Solent, Hampshire MCA—HMCG 24 
			 Portland, Dorset MCA—HMCG (6)12 
			 Culdrose, Cornwall MOD—RN 24 
			 Chivenor, Devon MOD—RAF 24 
			 Valley, North Wales MOD—RAF 24 
		
	
	(6) 0900–2100 standby
	At each base there is a primary helicopter and crew prepared for emergency response. In addition, at RAF SAR helicopter units, when available, a second aircraft and crew maintains a one-hour standby from 0800 to Evening Civil Twilight or 1800, whichever is the later, but not later than 2200 local time.
	The criteria for SAR helicopter coverage require that a SAR helicopter should take off as quickly and safely as possible, normally within 15 minutes by day and 45 minutes by night, from receiving notification of the incident by the appropriate Rescue Co-ordination Centre. SAR helicopters should be capable of reaching all very high and high risk areas and 75 per cent. of all medium risk areas within the UK Search and Rescue Region within 60 minutes of take-off.

London Underground

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the meetings he has had in the last 10 months with the Health and Safety Executive to discuss safety on the London underground.

David Jamieson: Ministers and officials meet the Health and Safety Executive on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including safety on the London underground.

London Underground

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if the PPP contracts as drafted will allow lowering of the current standards of disabled access being provided by London Underground Ltd. when carrying out new building and refurbishments.

David Jamieson: The PPP contracts will require the infrastructure companies to comply with all London Underground standards, including for disabled access, when carrying out new building and refurbishments. The PPP will result in real improvements to the accessibility of the Underground.

London Underground

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions why the new draft public-private partnership contracts grant the infrastructure companies the right to challenge London Underground Ltd.'s implementation of its obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Part 3, access to goods and services.

David Jamieson: London Underground and the Government remain committed to improving accessibility of the Underground and the modernisation plans will result in real improvements. The contracts require the infrastructure companies to comply with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations and to carry out other works specified by London Underground to improve accessibility. London Underground can also require the companies to carry out additional improvements, which could have significant cost implications.
	The contract therefore provides for London Underground and infrastructure companies to agree on such plans. In the event of disagreement, London Underground can require the work to be done unless the infrastructure company can show that no reasonable person could interpret the requirements of the DDA in the way proposed by London Underground.

London Underground

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on revenue to London Underground of delay in implementing the proposed public-private partnership; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: London Underground does not believe that the timing of the implementation of the public-private partnership has had any effect on revenues.

Road Schemes

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to the written answer of 30 October 2001, Official Report, column 578W, if he will list (a) road schemes included in the first full local transport plans which have an element of private capital, (b) road schemes included in the first annual progress reports which have an element of private capital and (c) roads in the targeted programme of improvements which has an element of private capital.

David Jamieson: None of the schemes in the three categories listed currently has an element of private capital.

Motorway Accidents

Terry Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many motorway accidents involving heavy goods vehicles there were in each of the last five years; and how many of such accidents involved foreign-owned and operated vehicles.

David Jamieson: The number of personal injury motorway accidents involving heavy goods vehicles is as follows.
	
		Injury road accidents on motorways(7) involving HGVs(8)
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1996 1,796 
			 1997 2,000 
			 1998 2,109 
			 1999 2,342 
			 2000 2,416 
		
	
	(7) Includes motorway standard A roads
	(8) Goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes
	Reliable information on the number of accident involving foreign heavy goods vehicles is not available.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has for the provision of additional tracks between Borough Market Junction and Metropolitan Junction on the channel tunnel route from Charing Cross to Orpington; and what is the (a) status of, (b) start date of and (c) expected completion date for such works.

Stephen Byers: The Thameslink 2000 project includes the provision of two additional tracks between Borough Market and Metropolitan Junction thus relieving the two track bottleneck over the Borough Market viaduct.
	Railtrack have applied for powers under the Transport and Works Act 1992 to carry out this project and the inspector's report is currently under consideration. Until I have taken my decision on that application it would be inappropriate for me to comment on likely future start and completion dates.
	However, Railtrack estimate that the project would take about five years to complete.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 4 February 2002
	There is no central register kept of all television purchases. The Department and its agencies have purchased 39 analogue televisions and six digital televisions over the last 24 months.
	There is no central guidance on the purchase of televisions; it is for the purchaser to adhere to central purchasing procedures and achieving best value.

National Rail Summit

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason no National Rail Summit took place in 2001; and when the next National Rail Summit is due to take place.

David Jamieson: Two summits were held in 1999 and 2000 but there was never any intention to hold them on an annual basis. There are no current plans to hold further National Rail Summits.

Lost/Stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Alan Whitehead: The following information has been extracted from records held centrally.
	
		
			   Department  Agencies  NDPBs  
			 Item Number Value (£) Number Value (£) Number Value (£) 
		
		
			 1998–99   
			 Audio visual equipment — — 1 50 — — 
			 Other equipment — — 1 40 — — 
			 Protective clothing — — 1 40 — — 
			
			 1999–2000   
			 Mobile telephones — — 1 50 — — 
			 Pager — — 1 50 — — 
			 Other equipment — — 1 28 4 100 
			
			 2000–01   
			 Laptop computer — — — — 1 25 
			 Mobile telephones — — *19 0 — — 
			 Pager — — 11 545 — — 
			
			 2001–02   
			 Mobile telephones 1 50 *21 0 — — 
			 Audio visual equipment — — 1 35 — — 
		
	
	Note:
	Items have been valued at cost, current worth or replacement cost depending on the circumstances of the individual case. Recoveries from perpetrators or others, such as insurance claims, have been netted off. For example the losses marked '*' have been replaced by the contractor at no cost to the agency.

City of York Council

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much money the Government have contributed to City of York council in cash terms in each year since it was created as a unitary authority; and how much the increase was each year in (a) cash and (b) real terms.

Alan Whitehead: York unitary authority have reported the following Government funding.
	
		Revenue Grants paid into General Fund Revenue Account (GFRA) and Capital Grants -- £000
		
			   Outturn Budget 
			  1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Revenue Support Grant 36,598 38,597 39,274 39,478 36,900 40,309 
			 Redistributed Non-domestic Rates 41,981 39,451 41,267 44,995 51,078 50,021 
			 Specific grants inside AEF 3,305 3,128 4,113 6,185 10,977 13,631 
			 Revenue Grants paid into GFRA(9) 81,884 81,176 84,654 90,658 98,955 103,961 
			
			 Capital Grants(10) 2,461 1,768 1,694 1,881 2,974 3,149 
			 Government contribution 84,345 82,944 86,348 92,539 101,929 107,110 
			
			 Increase on previous year (cash terms) — -1,401 3,404 6,191 9,390 5,181 
			 Increase on previous year (real terms)* — -3,882 1,056 4,010 7,623 2,569 
		
	
	* Real terms calculated using the GDP deflator.
	Sources:
	(9) 1996–97 to 2000–01 Revenue summary returns. 2001–02 GFRA budget estimates return.
	(10) 1996–97 to 2000–01 Capital outturn returns. 2001–02 Capital estimate returns.

Passenger Rail Travel

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of the Government's target for growth in passenger rail travel is predicated on a growth in off-peak travel.

David Jamieson: The assumptions underpinning the targets in "Transport 2010: The Ten Year Plan" are set out in the accompanying document "Transport 2010: The Background Analysis", copies of which are available in the Library and on my Department's website, www.dtlr.gov.uk.

E-democracy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list those local authorities who have undertaken interactive e-democracy projects.

Alan Whitehead: This information is not held centrally. Results of the Best Value Performance Indicator 157 to be published later this year will give an indication of the percentage of council information available online as at 1 April 2002.

E-democracy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with the e-Envoy on electronic democracy.

Alan Whitehead: We are working jointly with the Office of the e-Envoy and others to develop policy on e-democracy, including e-voting, and intend to consult on our wide-ranging proposals later this year.

E-democracy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of e-democracy projects undertaken in (a) the UK Parliament, (b) other parliaments and (c) local authorities; and if he will list them.

Alan Whitehead: My Department, with the Office of the e-Envoy and others, are developing e-democracy in the United Kingdom. The Government intend to consult on their wide-ranging proposals later this year. In drawing up these proposals, we are considering lessons to be learned from the best examples of e-democracy projects that have taken place in the UK Parliament, other parliaments and in local authorities, which include the following:
	UK Parliament
	The All Party Domestic Violence Group on-line consultation (Womenspeak).
	The Social Security Select Committee inquiry into tax credits.
	Elected representatives websites.
	Other Parliaments
	The Scottish Parliament's on-line petitions and discussion groups.
	The National Assembly for Wales' on-line consultation for ICT strategy.
	The European Parliament—on-line petitions and citizen's mailbox.
	The Aboriginal Canada website.
	Dutch Parliament—e-voting.
	US Presidential elections 2000—remote internet voting.
	Elected representatives websites.
	Local authorities
	Young Camden website.
	Young Citizen's project—Lewisham.
	Online referenda in Bristol and Croydon and other voting pilots.
	The Kalix Radslag deliberation (Sweden)—on-line consultation and discussion.

E-democracy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has had with local authorities in respect of e-democracy projects.

Alan Whitehead: As we announced to the House on 5 February 2002, Official Report, columns 829–32W, in consultation with the Office of the e-Envoy, the Electoral Commission and the Local Government Association, we have approved 30 local authorities to run electoral modernisation pilot schemes in the May 2002 local and mayoral elections. The Electoral Commission will be providing support and advice to pilot authorities throughout the pilot programme.
	My Department liaised closely with those authorities in the consideration of their applications and this process will continue in order to draw up the necessary parliamentary orders which need to be in place by 25 March 2002.

E-Democracy

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what measure he intends to take to ensure that a gender perspective is taken into account in introducing e-democracy;
	(2)  what measures he is taking to ensure that women are consulted in the (a) formulation and (b) content of the Government's e-democrary policy.

Christopher Leslie: I have been asked to reply.
	Following the creation of the Cabinet Committee on e-democracy, policy proposals on how to strengthen the democratic process through the use of the internet and other electronic means are being developed. The policy proposals will be subject to a wide public consultation later this year, plans for which are currently being prepared.
	Access and diversity issues will be looked at as part of the consultation's examination of inclusion in the democratic process and how e-democracy can help to address these issues. The development of e-democracy will be explored with individuals and groups, including women's groups. Women will be encouraged to respond to the consultation as a whole, and their contributions will be taken into account in the final policy.

Aircraft Noise

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which civilian airports in the UK service large aircraft with more than four flights in an hour.

David Jamieson: There is no standard definition of a large aircraft. Four flights an hour corresponds approximately to 25,000 flights annually. The latest available figures are for the year to end October 2001. Those UK airports at which there were more than 25,000 flights 1 in this period are as follows:
	1 Includes all civilian scheduled and charter air transport movements (except air taxis) by UK and foreign airlines. Flights such as positioning, training, private, corporate and military are excluded.
	Aberdeen
	Belfast City
	Belfast International
	Birmingham
	Bristol
	East Midlands
	Edinburgh
	Gatwick
	Glasgow
	Heathrow
	Leeds/Bradford
	Liverpool
	London City
	Luton
	Manchester
	Newcastle
	Southampton
	Stansted.

Aircraft Noise

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many complaints about aircraft noise his Department received in (a) 2001 and (b) each of the previous four years, broken down by airport or geographical area.

David Jamieson: Information is not held comprehensively in the form requested and to collect it exactly as specified would entail disproportionate cost. Letters from the public (and telephone calls when a written response was provided) about aircraft noise matters generally, excluding responses to consultations and co-ordinated campaigns, were received in each year as follows:
	
		
			 Airport 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Heathrow 146 188 159 100 221 
			 Gatwick 16 17 15 15 11 
			 Stansted 87 102 70 243 53 
			 Birmingham 10 6 6 4 2 
			 Bournemouth 6 21 6 8 3 
			 Bristol Lulsgate 1 — — 1 7 
			 East Midlands — 1 2 27 19 
			 Edinburgh 1 1 1  1 
			 Glasgow 1 — — — — 
			 Liverpool 3 4 — — 5 
			 London City 1 6 — — 3 
			 Luton 5 16 32 16 4 
			 Manchester 3 2 2 2 9 
			 Manston — 1 51 7 3 
			 Oxford 5 12 2 6 5 
			 Plymouth — 2 — — 1 
			 Others 271 182 104 107 89 
		
	
	Most of these letters, e-mails and telephone calls were about specific aspects of Government policy, the airport's noise controls, or both. Many complaints about noise matters are, however, dealt with by each individual airport. Some airports regularly publish their own summary statistics of complaints or inquiries.

Travellers

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he gives on the welfare considerations to be considered in the application for and enforcement of a possession order by a local authority to evict travellers from unauthorised occupation of public parks and open spaces.

Sally Keeble: Guidance is included in the Good Practice Guide on Managing Unauthorised Camping published in 1998. A copy of the Guidance is available in the Library of the House.
	As the hon. Member will know, my Department in conjunction with the Home Office are currently revising the 1998 Guidance. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 8 February 2002, Official Report, column 1188W.

Ministerial Meetings

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what meetings Ministers of his Department have had with members or officials of South Ribble borough council since June 2001.

Alan Whitehead: I met members and officials from South Ribble borough council on 26 June 2001. Since then, there have been no meetings between DTLR Ministers and officials and members from South Ribble borough council.

Global Crossing

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  what function has been played within the railway industry by Global Crossing;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with (a) Ernst and Young, (b) the Strategic Rail Authority and (c) the HSE on the potential impact on the railway industry of the collapse of Global Crossing;
	(3)  what effect the collapse of Global Crossing (a) has had and (b) is likely to have upon the rail network; and what steps his Department (i) has taken and (ii) will be taking in response to its collapse;
	(4)  what discussions (a) his Department and (b) the Strategic Rail Authority have had since 1997 with (i) Railtrack and (ii) the Rail Administrators regarding the work of (A) Racal Telecom and (B) Global Crossing within the railway industry;
	(5)  what steps the (a) SRA, (b) HSE and (c) Railway Administrators (i) have taken and (ii) will be taking in response to the collapse of Global Crossing.

David Jamieson: Global Crossing supplies telecom and associated services to the UK rail industry. I understand that the company have assured their European customers that service provision will be unaffected while it seeks to re-structure its finances in the United States.

Global Crossing

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(2)  what representations he has received from (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing, (f) the Department for Environment, Transport and the Regions and (g) the Competition Commission between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(3)  on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(4)  on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and the Regions and his Department and (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing and (f) the Competition Commission between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(5)  on what dates discussions took place between the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions and his Department and (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom and (e) Global Crossing between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(6)  what representations were received from (a) Railtrack, (b) the (Shadow) Strategic Rail Authority, (c) the Health and Safety Executive, (d) Racal Telecom, (e) Global Crossing and (f) the Department of Trade and Industry between May 1997 and December 1999 regarding the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing;
	(7)  what assessment was made by his Department of the impact of the sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing in November 1999 on its delivery of functions related to the railway, with specific reference to (a) economic aspects and (b) safety critical functions.

David Jamieson: The sale of Racal Telecom to Global Crossing was a commercial matter for the two private companies concerned, not my Department.

Global Crossing

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will outline the safety critical functions within the railway industry for which Global Crossing has had responsibility;
	(2)  what (a) safety warnings, (b) enforcement notices and (c) prosecutions have been placed upon Global Crossing (formerly Racal Telecom) by the Health and Safety Executive regarding safety offences related to the railways between (i) May 1997 and October 1999 and (ii) November 1999 and January 2002;
	(3)  what timetable for safety work on the railways has been agreed between Racal Telecom and (a) Railtrack, (b) the HSE and (c) his Department since December 1995;
	(4)  if he will list the requirements contained in the contract Global Crossing has had with Railtrack with regard to (a) its safety function, (b) a timetable for the improvement of safety critical functions and (c) other functions related to the running of the railway network;
	(5)  what the timetable is for the implementation of safety critical improvements agreed by Racal Telecom since December 1995; and what progress has been made towards these targets.

David Jamieson: Racal Telecom (now Global Crossing) have a contractual arrangement with Railtrack, which is a commercial matter between the companies. There are no agreements between Racal Telecom/Global Crossing and either the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) or my Department. Global Crossing supplies telecom and associated services to the British rail industry. Railtrack as infrastructure manager retains overall responsibility for safety. HSE advise that there have been no prosecutions against Racal Telecom or Global Crossing since 1 April 1999, or enforcement notices since 1 April 2001. HSE data from before this date are not available without incurring disproportionate cost.

Railway Assets

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been undertaken by his Department of the valuation of railway assets within British Rail Telecommunications plc sold by the Government to Racal Telecom in December 1995.

David Jamieson: British Rail Telecommunications Ltd. was sold by the British Railways Board for £132.75 million. My Department has made no such assessment since the sale.

Staff Retention

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many staff left the service of his Department and its agencies in the year ended 31 March 2001; how many left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60; and in respect of how many his Department and agencies assume responsibilities for making payments until retirement age.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The number of staff who left the service of this Department in the year ended 31 March 2001 is 318: 277 left before attaining the formal retirement age of 60: and DTLR(C) have assumed responsibility for making payments until retirement age (60) for nine ex-members of staff, who left during the financial year 2000–01.
	Parallel information on the Department's executive agencies is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Housing Corporation

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to ring-fence the funding for the Housing Corporation's rural programme.

Sally Keeble: We have no plans to do so. We have doubled the target for the number of dwellings which the Housing Corporation's rural programme will deliver in small rural settlements (those with a population of 3,000 or less), from 800 approvals in 2000–01 to 1,600 a year by 2003–04.

Affordable Housing

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional funding he intends to provide to support the building of affordable housing on brownfield sites (a) in England and (b) in rural areas.

Sally Keeble: We are increasing investment in affordable housing in England through the Housing Corporation to over £1.2 billion by 2003–04, almost double the level in 2000–01. The Corporation has a target to deliver 65 per cent. of this housing in regeneration areas.
	Any additional funding to support the building of affordable housing in England will be considered as part of the Spending Review 2002.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in his Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: The number of alleged cases identified as work related stress over the last three years in my Department are:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 1998–99 13 
			 1999–2000 20 
			 2000–01 39 
		
	
	There have been two cases, which were the subject of a stress-related claim against the Department; both are now closed, as the cases were unproven. No compensation has been paid to date for claims of work related stress. The Department does not have details of the days lost and associated cost for work related stress absence.
	The Department has a Stress at Work policy in place, which is supported by practical guidance issued to all staff on dealing with the issue. DTLR is committed to meeting the targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to work related injuries and ill health arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative.
	The reply does not include the Department's agencies.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many people are employed in his Department on a job share contract; and what percentage of vacant positions was advertised on this basis in the last 12 months.

Alan Whitehead: The information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment has been made of the effect of the Working Time Directive on his Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Whitehead: There are currently 33 members of DTLR(C) staff (out of 3,532 as at 1 January 2002) who have signed agreements to disapply the 48 hour per week working hours limit.
	Officials are currently involved in assessing the effect of the Working Time Regulations on my Department's staff. In addition, my Department is carrying out a staff survey, part of which focuses on work loads/stress etc. The results from these two surveys will inform the discussion on any action that may be appropriate.
	The reply does not include the Department's agencies.

Cyclists (Safety)

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the requirements for cyclists to (a) use lights after dark and (b) wear cycling helmets.

David Jamieson: The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 require any pedal cycle used on the roads between sunset and sunrise to have a front lamp, a rear lamp and a red rear reflector. The lamps must be lit and unobscured. There is no legal requirement for cyclists to wear a cycle helmet. However the Highway Code advises cyclists wear a cycle helmet.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on the commitment required by members of passenger transport authorities in terms of frequency of attendance and hours.

Sally Keeble: It is up to Passenger Transport Authority members to determine the frequency of their meetings and the consequent time commitment required.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on recommended methods of selection of local councillors to sit on Passenger Transport Authorities.

Sally Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities (PTAs) are composed of councillors from districts within the PTA area. The members of each council nominate representatives from among their number.

Passenger Transport Authorities

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the Passenger Transport Authorities' performance in consulting passengers and their representatives about their plans.

Sally Keeble: Passenger Transport Authorities are required by the Transport Act 2000 to prepare, in conjunction with the relevant Metropolitan district councils, a joint local transport plan (LTP) for their area.
	Our guidance to authorities on LTPs makes clear the importance of participation with both the local community and key stakeholders in the development of the objectives and strategies for the LTP. Our guidance on LTP Annual Progress Reports (APRs) also refers to the need for on-going consultation during the implementation of the LTP. Evidence of authorities' efforts in this respect forms part of our consideration of the overall quality of LTPs and APRs.

Railway Industry (State Aid)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether he has received a response from the European Commission on the Railtrack State Aid application; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The European Commission announced on 13 February that State Aid clearance has been given for Government to make loans or to guarantee commercial loans made to Railtrack plc in administration.
	The Government intend to notify Railtrack plc that it should use reasonable endeavours to secure commercial banking facilities, guaranteed by the Secretary of State, to refinance the outstanding advances made under the loan facility, together with interest, thereby removing the direct call on taxpayers' money.

Departmental Resources and Initiatives (Surrey)

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the financial resources and initiatives sponsored by his Department in the last 12 months for Surrey which are additional to Government SSA grants.

Alan Whitehead: Government Grant Support to Surrey county council for Revenue Expenditure in addition to General Grants distributed by formula in 2001–02 consists of:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 Rural Bus Subsidy Grant 779,797 
			 Rural Bus Challenge 150,000 
			 Supporting People Implementation Grant 354,881

HGV Accidents

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many road traffic accidents in England and Wales involved a heavy goods vehicle in each year since 1995.

David Jamieson: The number of injury accidents in England and Wales involving goods vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible gross vehicle weight is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1995 11,714 
			 1996 11,684 
			 1997 12,333 
			 1998 12,484 
			 1999 13,053 
			 2000 13,046 
		
	
	Figures for 2001 are not yet available and no information is available regarding damage only accidents involving heavy goods vehicles.

Hospitality Events

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  if he will list those functions, engagements and events which he, his Ministers, officials and advisers have attended which have been wholly or partly sponsored, funded, and promoted by the British Airports Authority since 1997;
	(2)  if he will list those functions, engagements and events which Ministers, his officials and advisers have attended which have been sponsored, funded, promoted and hosted by the City of London Corporation since 1997.

Alan Whitehead: The information is not available in the form requested.

Archaeological Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what has been the level of expenditure on archaeological services by local authorities in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99, (d) 1999–2000 and (e) 2000–01.

Alan Whitehead: The information requested is not available centrally.

Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect the proposed Directive on Market Access to Port Services would have upon the monopoly that UK port owners hold upon pilotage in their ports.

David Jamieson: Our aim in relation to pilotage provisions in the proposed Directive is to preserve the integrated approach to safety management promoted by the Port Marine Safety Code. There is nothing in the proposed text that is inconsistent with the Code or the present regulatory functions of competent harbour authorities under the Pilotage Act 1987.
	Under the Commission's proposals these authorities may in certain circumstances be required to include a tendering process in deciding what contractual arrangements are appropriate for the provision of the pilotage service. Pilots' organisations have told us that they oppose introducing the principle of competition into pilotage, and they support the European Parliament's proposal to exclude pilotage from the Directive.

Park Homes

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce legislation to improve conditions for park home owners.

Sally Keeble: Proposals for legislation to amend the control regime for park homes were included in the recommendations of the Park Homes Working Party. Following consultation, we issued our response to the Working Party's report on 29 November last year, and placed copies of it in the Library of the House. This gives a detailed response to each of the Working Party's recommendations and indicates how we intend to take them forward.

Park Homes

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what recent discussions he has had with the National Park Homes Campaign Group.

Sally Keeble: We have had no discussions with the National Park Homes Campaign Group.

Regeneration

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will introduce a scheme to accredit the skills of the community involved in regeneration projects.

Sally Keeble: We are committed to ensuring that the skills of community residents involved in neighbourhood renewal work are accredited and recognised. The Learning and Development Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, to be published in spring 2002, will consider how best to achieve this as part of its work to ensure that everyone involved in neighbourhood renewal has the skills, knowledge and support they need to help them succeed.

Teenagers

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what discussions he has held with local authorities with regard to improving facilities for teenagers.

Alan Whitehead: Regarding English local authorities, Ministers and officials in DTLR and other Departments have frequent discussions with local authorities about the provision of services to their residents, including teenagers and other children.

Community Strategies

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he has made it a statutory duty for county councils to prepare community strategies.

Sally Keeble: The duty in section 4 of the Local Government Act 2000 was introduced to confer on all principal councils (including county councils, district councils and unitary authorities) the statutory authority to develop strategies which promote or improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom. This measure forms part of the Government's wider initiative to modernise local government.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the impact of removing the link between county councils and land use planning and (a) public service agreements, (b) local transport plans, (c) education development plans, (d) social services plans, (e) library plans, (f) waste management strategies and (g) community safety.

Sally Keeble: The Government do not propose to remove the link between county councils and land use planning. Partly because of the functions referred to by the hon. Member, the Planning Green Paper seeks views on the role that county councils can continue to play in the preparation of planning strategies at the regional and sub-regional level, and in assisting district councils with the preparation of Local Development Frameworks.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how many tiers there are in the planning system and how many are proposed in the Green Paper.

Sally Keeble: Planning Guidance is produced at the national and regional level. In two-tier local authority areas plans are prepared at county level (structure plans) and by district authorities (local plans). In single-tier areas unitary authorities either produce a plan which incorporates both county and district plan functions (unitary development plans) or prepare a joint structure plan and a local plan.
	Under our proposals set out in the Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change", we propose to simplify the existing arrangements by abolishing the structure plan tier of plans. They will be replaced, together with unitary development and local plans, by a new single level of plan called a Local Development Framework to be prepared by district and unitary authorities.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will make a statement on how the Green Paper's proposals on planning will improve integration with other strategies and plans.

Sally Keeble: The Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" sets out proposals for better integrated and more effective planning at both strategic and local levels. The new statutory Regional Spatial Strategy will take full account of the spatial planning aspects of other relevant regional strategies and provide the longer term planning framework for Regional Development Agencies and other regional stakeholders.
	At the local level local authorities are already required to produce community strategies to provide an integrated approach to the improvement of the economic, social and environmental well being of their areas.
	The core policies of the proposed Local Development Framework will help deliver the land use and development aspects of the Community Strategy, with action plans integrated with other initiatives, such as those for regeneration and neighbourhood renewal.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  for what reason the Green Paper on planning proposes county councils have no statutory role in planning; and what role county councils will have in promoting sustainable development;
	(2)  for what reason the Planning Green Paper states that boundary overlaps make county level planning no longer appropriate.

Sally Keeble: The Green Paper recognises the continuing need for strategic planning at regional level and for local planning to be undertaken as close to local communities as possible. It proposes abolition of structure plans but invites comments on whether the counties should have a role in assisting the regional, district and unitary authorities in preparing their plans (para 4.37). We propose that mineral and waste planning should continue to be a county function. In addition, county councils will continue to have responsibilities for other functions which bear upon sustainability such as countryside management and the preparation of local transport plans.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for what reason he proposes to end the county councils' role in the development system.

Sally Keeble: The Government do not propose to end the county councils' role in the development planning system. We are seeking views on the future planning role of the county councils in addition to their continuing responsibility for minerals and waste planning.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what reasons underlie his proposal to remove from the statutory consultees for planning decisions groups concerned with environmental protection or local interest which do not have a role in health and safety; and by what means he will ensure that the views of local people are taken into account in planning decisions.

Sally Keeble: We are concerned that the present arrangements for consulting expert bodies on planning and other cases are not working as effectively as they might. The distinction between statutory and non- statutory consultees has become blurred and consultation can often be a source of delay. One option proposed in our consultation paper "Planning: Delivering a Fundamental Change" is to clarify the basis of determining whether bodies should be statutory consultees and reduce their number. Decisions about which bodies might in future be statutory consultees will be made in the light of the consultation. The consultation paper also contains a number of proposals to promote better engagement of local communities in shaping the future development of their areas.

Local Planning

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action has been taken to identify where the delays in the planning process are; and if he will publish a list of (a) the average time taken to decide on planning applications by district, unitary and county councils and (b) the average time taken for Ministers to decide on call in decisions in the last 12 months.

Sally Keeble: The Government have reviewed the planning system and published a Green Paper "Planning: delivering a fundamental change" which sets out a range of measures and proposals to deliver a faster, simpler, more accessible planning system for business and local communities.
	The average time for local authorities to decide planning applications in 2000–01 was 11.7 weeks. Detailed information for each local authority is published in "The Best Value and Audit Commission Performance Indicators Actual Outturn Data 2000–01".
	Performance on the issuing of called-in applications is measured as the proportion decided within 13 and 20 weeks of receiving the Inspector's Report. In 2001–02, 61 per cent. of called-in planning applications were decided in 13 weeks and 73 per cent. were decided in 20 weeks.

Fair Trade

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 913W, on fair trade goods, if he will review and increase the amount of fairly traded goods purchased by her Department during Fair Trade Fortnight.

Alan Whitehead: The Department's procurement policy is about the achievement of value for money. The Department does not have a specific policy requiring the purchase of Fair Trade goods. Purchasing Officers are expected to consider each case on its merits with particular regard to the need for any products purchased to represent value for money.
	The Department supports the sale of Fair Trade products including tea and coffee and confectionery including chocolate and cereal bars, which have been introduced in the staff restaurants. Declarations have been obtained from the contractor that the products sold are Fair Trade.

Opencast Mining

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to increase protection for communities adversely affected by opencast mining.

Sally Keeble: Planning policies for Wales are the responsibility of the National Assembly.
	Revised and strengthened policy for coal mining in England, including opencast working, was published in March 1999 in Minerals Planning Guidance Note 3. This sets out a policy presumption against the development of coal extraction sites. However, such development can be permitted if the proposal is environmentally acceptable or can be made so through the use of planning conditions or obligations, or, where this is not the case, where there are local or community benefits which clearly outweigh the adverse impacts. This is the means by which any possible adverse effects on communities from opencast mining proposals should be tested, and suitable mitigation measures applied in those cases where, with such action, the development could be made acceptable. In accordance with general planning policies, such measures, in the form of planning conditions or obligations, should be necessary, precise, relevant to planning, enforceable, directly relevant both to the development proposed and the avoidance of the adverse effects they are intended to prevent or reduce, and reasonable in all other respects. The Government consider that, within the normal operation of the planning system, these are matters best assessed by the local communities and local authorities who know the area best, and are most directly affected.
	We have no plans to change this policy framework.

Secondments

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the names of staff who have been seconded to his Department from the private sector since May 1997, indicating (a) the names of the organisation from which each has come, (b) their responsibilities and civil service grades within his Department, (c) the organisation responsible for paying their salary and (d) the start and end dates of their secondment.

Alan Whitehead: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The table sets out details of secondments from the private sector into DTLR since its inception in June 2001. I am unable to provide the names of staff seconded to this Department without their written consent.
	
		Secondments into DTLR since June 2001
		
			 Identity (a) Parent organisation (b) Responsibilities and civil service grades (c) Organisation responsible for paying salary (d) Start and end dates of secondment 
		
		
			 1. ADFC Ltd. G7—Local Government ADFC Ltd. 3 September 2001 to date 
			 2. Home Group Ltd. SEO—Urban Policy Home Group Ltd. 4 February 2002 to date 
			 3.. Accord plc G7—Local Government Accord plc 3 September 2001 to date 
			 4. SERCO Ltd. G7—Local Government SERCO Ltd. 11 June 2001 to date 
			 5. Savage Crangle Partners AA—Local Government Savage Crangle Partners 19 October 2001 to date 
			 6. BT G7—Neighbourhood Renewal BT 24 September 2001 to date 
			 7. PricewaterhouseCooper G7—Local Government PricewaterhouseCooper 3 September 2001 to date 
			 8. Babtie Group G7—Local Government Babtie Group 3 September 2001 to date 
			 9. PEP Ltd. G7—Neighbourhood Renewal PEP Ltd. 18 June 2001 to date

Metropolitan and East London Lines

Richard Page: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions which (a) Metropolitan line and (b) East London line stations will be refurbished (i) between 2002 and 2005 and (ii) between 2006 and 2007 and (iii) from 2008; and when it is estimated that the final one will be completed.

David Jamieson: holding answer 12 February 2002
	London Transport's plans for modernisation of the tube are designed to deliver a comprehensive upgrade of the whole network as quickly and efficiently as possible. London Transport is currently consulting the Mayor and Transport for London on the plans following its announcement on 7 February that it is minded to proceed. I expect London Transport to publish detailed information on the station refurbishment programme following that consultation.

Structure Plan (Lincolnshire)

Quentin Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions whether there is a structure plan for Lincolnshire; and what the status is of the draft Lincolnshire structure plan.

Alan Whitehead: The Lincolnshire structure plan was approved in 1981. Policies on population, housing, settlement, employment and shopping have been amended and the plan period extended to 2000 through Structure Plan Alterations Nos. 1 and 2 in 1991 and 1994.
	Lincolnshire county council published a revised Deposit structure plan in January 1998 and progressed through to the adoption phase in December 2000. However, the Secretary of State directed the county council not to adopt the structure plan until he had decided how to proceed following the council's refusal to comply with his direction to modify Policy 4 on Accessibility to include reference to reducing the need to travel in particular by private car to bring the policy into line with national planning policy in PPG13 Transport.
	The Secretary of State is currently considering whether to withdraw the direction to modify and allow the council to adopt the structure plan. In the interim the uncontested policies and proposals in the emerging structure plan have considerable weight in the consideration of planning matters in the county.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions 
	(1)  when he intends to provide an answer to the question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 15 October 2001, Ref 7191;
	(2)  when he intends to provide an answer to the question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 15 October 2001, Ref 7190.

Alan Whitehead: The questions were not answered because they were withdrawn by the hon. Member on 4 October.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to change the Departmental Expenditure Limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Stephen Byers: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions' Departmental Expenditure Limits for 2001–02 will change as follows.
	(a) the DTLR Main Programmes DEL will be increased by £103,081,000 from £12,121,782,000 to £12,224,863,000 and the DTLR administration costs limit will be increased by £3,037,000 from £715,335,000 to £718,372,000 and the DTLR HSE administration costs limit will be increased by £1,000,000 from £196,232,000 to £197,232,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 168,983 
			 New DEL 4,913,833 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change -65,902 
			 New DEL 7,311,030 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	(i) The changes for Request for Resources 1 are as follows:
	Take up of End Year Flexibility of £44,812,000 comprising £30,751,000 for Regional Development Agencies and £14,061,000 for the London Development Agency. An increase of £2,479,000 from Request for Resources 4 comprising £1,385,000 for Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency administration costs (partly offset by receipts shortfall of £705,000); £244,000 for the Rent Service administration costs; and £850,000 for fire prevention publicity. A net decrease of £81,111,000 resulting from the following inter- departmental transfers: £30,000 from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for seabed vehicle; £189,000 for Ordnance Survey from Invest to Save budget; £13,000 from the Scottish Executive to Neighbourhood Renewal Unit; net transfer of £79,000,000 to Department of Health consisting of a transfer for bedblocking (£80,000,000) partially offset by transfer for rough sleepers (£1,000,000); £1,781,000 to Department for Work and Pensions for benefit agency staff (£1,631,000) and for work carried out on "section 30" grant (£150,000); net transfer of £372,000 to Lord Chancellor's Department; £95,000 to Home Office for joint funded special grants programme project; and £95,000 to Department for Education and Skills for resident consultancy project. A transfer of £17,704,000 to the capital element of the DTLR DEL.
	(ii) The changes for Request for Resources 2 are as follows:
	Take up of End Year Flexibility of £49,400,000 comprising £19,400,000 for National Air Traffic Services PPP consultancy costs; £15,000,000 for financial assistance to airlines for losses arising from the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA; and £15,000,000 for payments to administrators of Railtrack plc (in administration). Transfer of £9,994,000 from Request for Resources 4 comprising £1,567,000 to Maritime and Coastguard Agency for administration costs (£127,000), additional pension costs (£440,000) and emergency towing vessels (£1,000,000); £2,653,000 to Highways Agency for administration costs; and £5,774,000 to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for administration costs. A net increase of £12,455,000 resulting from the following inter-departmental transfers: a transfer of £16,800,000 from the Scottish Executive to reflect part of the effect on ScotRail of the Rail Regulator's Review of Access Charges (£12,800,000), and to reflect the operation of the ScotRail performance regime (£4,000,000); £333,000 for Civil Service Reform; £25,000 from Northern Ireland Office (Department of the Environment) to Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency; £3,435,000 to Ministry of Defence to refund Royal Flight contribution; £800,000 to Department for Education and Skills for training costs; and a net transfer of £468,000 to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs consisting of research (£413,000), the site specific advice programme (£147,000) partially offset by transfers for fishing vessels (£92,000). A net transfer of £10,910,000 from non-voted provision for financial assistance to airlines for losses arising from the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks in the USA (£10,000,000); Maritime and Coastguard Agency emergency towing vessels (£1,000,000), partially offset by transfer of £90,000 receipts to non-voted provision. A transfer of £17,441,000 from the capital element of the DTLR DEL.
	(iii) The changes for Request for Resources 4 are as follows:
	Take up of End Year Flexibility of £1,000,000 for Health and Safety Executive administration costs. Transfer of £2,479,000 to Request for Resources 1 in respect of Rent Service Executive Agency administration costs (£244,000); Planning Inspectorate Agency administration costs (£1,385,000); and Fire Services (£850,000). Transfer of £9,994,000 to Request for Resources 2 in respect of Maritime and Coastguard Agency administration costs (£567,000); Highways Agency administration costs (£2,653,000); Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency administration costs (£5,774,000); and to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency for towing vessels (£1,000,000). A decrease of £7,189,000 resulting from the following inter-departmental transfers: Machinery of Government transfers to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (£6,294,000); to Office for National Statistics for neighbourhood statistics (£585,000); and to Cabinet Office for Government Office for London (£300,000) and recruitment of fast streamers (£10,000). Transfer of £5,900,000 from non-voted provision for Health and Safety Executive.
	(iv) Provision within the non-Voted resource element of the DTLR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £133,774,000. This reflects a technical reclassification of the Commission for New Towns and Urban Regeneration Agency as non-departmental public bodies (£162,711,000 and £81,600,000); partially offset by transfers to Department of Work and Pensions from Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (£57,796,000); and machinery of government changes transfers to Department for Trade and Industry (£40,200,000) and Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (£5,641,000). £6,900,000 non-voted provision will be transferred to Request for Resources 2 (£1,000,000) and Request for Resources 4 (£5,900,000)
	(v) As a result of the changes to Requests for Resources 1, 2 and 4 the DTLR administration provision has been increased by £4,782,000 from £957,147,000 to £961,929,000.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from:
	(vi) The changes for Request for Resources 1 are as follows:
	Take up of End Year Flexibility of £54,112,000 comprising Regional Development Agencies (£23,176,000) and London Development Agency (£30,936,000). A transfer of £30,000,000 to Request for Resources 2 for a loan to the Highways Agency; a transfer of £519,000 from Request for Resources 4 for the Rent Service Executive Agency (£362,000) and the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency (£157,000). A net increase of £4,813,000 resulting from the following inter-departmental transfers: £2,500,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for choice based lettings; from Department of Trade and Industry to Regional Development Agencies for land and property (£1,506,000); from Capital Modernisation Fund to Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency (£702,000); from Invest to Save Budget for Ordnance Survey (£15,000); and from Department for Work and Pensions to the Rent Service Executive Agency (£90,000). A transfer from resource provision of £17,704,000.
	(vii) The changes for Request for Resources 2 are as follows:
	Take up of End Year Flexibility of £1,000,000 for Transport Direct. A transfer of £30,000,000 from Request for Resources 1 for a loan to the Highways Agency. A transfer of £4,181,000 from Request for Resources 4 to Driver and Vehicle and Licensing Agency for electronic service delivery. An increase of £12,821,000 resulting from the following inter-departmental transfers: from Capital Modernisation Fund to Driving Standards Agency for hand held computers (£2,800,000); from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (£345,000); and from Scottish Executive a net transfer of £9,676,000 for Rosyth/Zeebrugge water freight grant (£10,969,000) partly offset by transfer for freight facilities grant (£1,293,000). Transfer from non-voted provision of £44,000,000 in respect of loan to Highways Agency (£39,000,000) and the Doncaster North bridge project (£5,000,000). Transfer to resource provision of £17,441,000.
	(viii) The changes for Request for Resources 4 are as follows:
	A machinery of government transfer of £487,000 to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. A transfer of £519,000 to Request for Resources 1 for the Rent Service Executive Agency (£362,000) and the Planning Inspectorate Executive Agency (£157,000). A transfer of £4,181,000 to Request for Resources 2 for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. An additional receipt of £1,000,000 for sale of land at Mandela Road.
	(ix) Provision within the non-Voted capital element of the DTLR Main Programmes Departmental Expenditure Limit will be decreased by £181,424,000. This reflects a technical reclassification of the Commission for New Towns and Urban regeneration Agency as non-departmental public bodies (£93,757,000 and £17,557,000); machinery of government change transfer to Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (£16,200,000); net transfers to Request for Resources 2 of £53,910,000 including £9,910,000 transferred to resource.
	(b) the DTLR Local Government DEL will be increased by £1,100,000 from £37,040,189,000 to £37,041,289,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change +1,100 
			 New DEL 36,951,370 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change — 
			 New DEL 89,919 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from a machinery of government change transfer of £1,100,000 from the Home Office.

Mesothelioma (Compensation)

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what action he will take to help sufferers from mesothelioma who, as a result of the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Fairchild case, are unable to obtain compensation from their former employers through the courts.

Stephen Byers: The compensation scheme administered by the Department under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979 will be used to make payments to qualifying sufferers from mesothelioma who are affected by the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the Fairchild case.
	This is a terrible disease and it would be wrong for employees, former employees and their families to be left without help as a result of this court judgment. As an interim measure, I am extending the compensation scheme my Department operates for sufferers of respiratory industrial diseases to cover qualifying employees. I am discussing with colleagues in government what further action might be taken in the longer term in response to the Fairchild judgment.

Electoral Modernisation

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions further to his announcement on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 829W, on local authorities who have been approved to run electoral modernisation pilot schemes in the May 2002 local elections, what other authorities have been approved to run schemes; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Raynsford: I am pleased to announce that Middlesbrough council will join the 13 other local authorities to pilot an all postal ballot at local and mayoral elections this May.
	I announced the other successful pilots for the May 2002 local elections on 5 February, when I gave the go-ahead for 30 councils to pilot new ways of voting and counting. These included testing early voting, all postal ballots and mobile ballot kiosks. Over half will explore innovative ways in which people can vote electronically including via the internet.
	The pilot programme aims to build on the successes of earlier pilots—in the 2000 local elections—and explore other techniques to make the voting process simpler, accessible and more efficient for the electorate. We are particularly keen to engage younger voters and feel the new innovations will help.
	In addition I have agreed that Kerrier district council who is due to hold a by-election for a casual vacancy can pilot an all postal ballot on that occasion.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

Al-Yamamah Arms Agreement

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many copies of the 1992 National Audit Office report about the Al-Yamamah arms agreement were produced.

Alan Williams: 10 copies of the 1992 National Audit Office report on the Saudi Arabian Airforce Project—known as project Al-Yamamah—were produced.
	The report looked at the use of taxpayers' money by the Ministry of Defence in relation to the project. It referred to confidential arrangements between the governments of the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The report was not published because publication would have breached that pledge of confidentiality.
	The then PAC chairman (now Lord Sheldon) was quoted as saying after he and the then senior Conservative member of the PAC had considered the report in private in February 1992:
	"I did an investigation and I find no evidence that the [MOD] made improper payments. I have found no evidence of fraud or corruption. The deal . . . complied with Treasury Approval and the rules of government accounting."

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Golden Jubilee

Tim Yeo: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what events (a) he is and (b) other Ministers in his Department are planning to attend as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations; and what events his Department is planning to arrange to celebrate the Golden Jubilee.

John Prescott: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 58W.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Colin Pickthall: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans there are to change the Cabinet Office departmental expenditure limit and the administration costs limit for 2001–02.

John Prescott: Subject to parliamentary approval of the spring supplementary estimate the Cabinet Office DEL (resources and capital) will be increased by £54,599,000 from £348,264,000 to £402,863,000 and the administration costs limit will be increased from £246,753,000 to £267,704,000.
	Within the DEL change the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 50,647 
			 New DEL 315,096 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 306,349 
			 Non-voted 8,747 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 3,952 
			 New DEL 87,767 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 87,767 
			 Non-voted — 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from transfers from other Departments for Machinery of Government changes and other arrangements, additional provision for key priorities and improving public services and for improving security and communications systems following the events of 11 September.The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from transfers from other Departments for Machinery of Government changes and other arrangements and a reallocation from resource to capital.
	The increases will be offset by inter-departmental transfers or charged to the DEL reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Lost/stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Christopher Leslie: Two items with a value equal to or less than £50 were reported stolen or lost within the last four financial years. Both incidents occurred in 1997–98.
	Corresponding figures for the 2001–02 financial year have yet to be collated.
	Kitchen equipment: £20
	Foreign currency: £50.

Charity Law Reform Advisory Group

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Charity Law Reform Advisory Group is due to publish its conclusions.

Barbara Roche: his is not a matter for the Government. The Charity Law Reform Advisory Group, was set up by NCVO—National Council for Voluntary Organisations. The conclusions for the group were published as a consultation document "For the public benefit?" in January 2001. Their consultation period ended on 31 July 2001.

Government Office for the West Midlands

David Wright: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many people are directly employed by the Government office for the west midlands; and how many equivalent full-time posts this represents.

Barbara Roche: 263 people are directly employed by the Government office for the west midlands. This represents 250 full-time equivalent posts.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment has been made of the effect of the working time directive on his Department's employees; how many employees are working in excess of 48 hours per week; what steps he is taking to reduce this number; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: The standard terms and conditions of service for staff employed by the Cabinet Office and its agencies are within the limits set by the working time regulations. Those employees whose duties require them to work in excess of 48 hours on a regular basis are asked to sign an opt-out agreement. 170 members of staff have signed such an agreement.
	Persistent working in excess of 48 hours per week is discouraged. My Department is committed to reducing the number of employees who are required to work long hours (by adjusting working hours or re-designing jobs) to an absolute minimum commensurate with meeting their operational needs. Work/life balance policies are in place to give managers greater flexibility in reducing the number of excess hours worked.

E-democracy Projects

Margaret Moran: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list local authorities which have undertaken interactive e-democracy projects.

Christopher Leslie: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Test (Dr. Whitehead), on 13 February 2002.

Civil Servants

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of senior civil servants have previously been employed (a) in the private sector, (b) in local government administration and (c) in Government Offices for the Regions.

Christopher Leslie: Comprehensive information is not held centrally on what proportion of senior civil servants have previously been employed in (a) the private sector, (b) local government administration and (c) Government Offices for the Regions.
	The table shows the number and proportion of people recruited through open competition to the senior civil service, by their previous employment sector, for the last five years.
	
		
			   Civil service  Other public sector  Private sector  Total  
			 Year Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 1996–97 32 33.3 37 38.5 27 28.1 96 100.00 
			 1997–98 27 32.5 36 43.4 20 24.1 83 100.00 
			 1998–99 32 29.9 44 41.1 31 29.0 107 100.00 
			 1999–2000 55 34.8 59 37.3 44 27.8 158 100.00 
			 2000–01 77 38.1 98 48.5 27 13.4 202 100.00 
		
	
	The proportion of senior civil servants working in Government Offices for the Regions posts at 1 April 2001 was around 1.6 per cent.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT Public Bodies (Chairmen)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will list the appointments made by her Department since 1 May 1997 of chairmen of (a) non-departmental public bodies, (b) commissions, (c) inquiries, (d) agencies and (e) taskforces; and if she will list their (i) term of office, (ii) salary and (iii) known political affiliation (A) past and (B) present.

Tessa Jowell: The information follows, but does not include details on appointments to bodies sponsored by my Department where my role is to advise on appointments made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister or, through him, by Her Majesty the Queen. My Department also does not collect details on political affiliation.
	
		
			 Body Name Term of appointment Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			  Chairs of non-departmental public bodies 
			 Advisory Committee on the Government Art Collection John Tusa 3 September 1999 to 2 September 2003 0 
			 Advisory Council on Libraries John Hicks 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2002 0 
			 Arts Council of England Gerry Robinson 1 May 1998 to 31 January 2001 and 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 0 
			 British Film Institute Sir Alan Parker CBE 1 January 1998 to 3 August 1999 0 
			 British Film Institute(11) Joan Bakewell 4 August 1999 to 30 September 2002 0 
			 British Library Lord Eatwell 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2006 32,010 
			 British Tourist Authority David Quarmby 1 June 1999 to 31 May 2003 41,930 
			 Broadcasting Standards Commission Lord Holme 1 October 1999 to 22 October 2001 50,990 
			 Broadcasting Standards Commission Lord Dubs 1 February 2001 to 31 January 2004 50,990 
			 Commission for Architecture and the Built Heritage Sir Stuart Lipton 20 August 1999 to 19 August 2002 30,000 (not taken) 
			 The Community Fund Lady Brittan CBE 10 May 1999 to 9 May 2002 25,000 
			 Culture South West Adrian Vinken 29 September 1999 to 28 September 2002 0 
			 East of England Regional Cultural Consortium Graham Creelman 28 September 1999 to 27 September 2002 0 
			 East Midlands Regional Cultural Consortium Venu Dhupa 6 October 1999 to 5 October 2002 0 
			 English Heritage Sir Neil Cossons 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2005 54,000 
			 English Tourism Council Alan Britten 12 July 1999 to 11 July 2002 37,440 
			 Film Council Sir Alan Parker CBE 30 July 1999 to 29 July 2002 0 
			 Football Licensing Authority Clive Sherling 28 August 1999 to 31 March 2001 and 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2003 13,105 (up to April 2001. Nil thereafter) 
			 Gaming Board for Great Britain(12) Peter Dean CBE 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2006 41,020 
			 Geffrye Museum Richard Hunting 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2002 0 
			 Horniman Museum Donald Kirkham CBE 23 September 1999 to 22 September 2003 0 
			 Horserace Betting Levy Board(12) Robert Hughes CBE 1 September 2001 to 31 August 2004 48,250 
			 Horserace Totalisator(12) Peter Jones 1 August 2000 to 31 July 2003 83,553 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester John Lee 21 October 1998 to 20 October 2001 0 
			 Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester Professor Laurie Wood 21 October 2001 to 20 October 2004 0 
			 National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside David McDonnell 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2005 0 
			 National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts Lord Puttnam CBE 9 July 1998 to 8 July 2001 and 9 July 2001 to 8 July 2004 22,660 
			 National Lottery Commission(13) Brian Pomeroy 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 33,026 
			 National Lottery Commission(13) Dame Helena Shovelton 1 April 2000 to 4 October 2000 33,026 
			 National Lottery Commission(13) Lord Burns 5 October 2000 to 4 October 2001 33,026 
			 National Lottery Commission(13) Harriet Spicer 5 October 2001 to 4 October 2003 33,026 
			 New Opportunities Fund Baroness Pitkeathley OBE 3 July 1998 to 2 January 2002 and 3 January 2002 to 2 January 2005 24,133 
			 North East Regional Cultural Consortium George Gill 29 September to 26 September 2002 0 
			 North West Regional Cultural Consortium Felicity Goodey CBE 28 September 1999 to 27 September 2002 0 
			 Public Lending Right Advisory Committee Michael Holroyd CBE 7 August 1997 to 6 August 2000 0 
			 Public Lending Right Advisory Committee Clare Francis 7 August 2000 to 6 August 2003 0 
			 Public Lending Right Registrar Dr. James Parker 1 August 2001 to 31 July 2006 48,706 
			 QUEST Keith Oates 1 July 1999 to 22 March 2000 0 
			 QUEST Sheila Forbes 1 November 2000 to 31 October 2003 0 
			 Resource Lord Evans CBE 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2003 31,800 
			 Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art Sir John Guinness CB 1 December 1998 to 30 November 2001 and 1 December 2001 to 30 November 2003 0 
			 South East Regional Cultural Consortium Professor Sir David Watson 28 September 1999 to 27 September 2002 0 
			 Spoliation Advisory Panel Sir David Hirst 13 April 2000 to 12 April 2004 5,631 
			 Sport England Trevor Brooking CBE 7 July 1998 to 11 April 1999 and 12 April 1999 to 11 October 2002 25,205 
			 Theatres Trust Sir John Drummond CBE 1 April 1998 to 31 March 2001 and 1 April 2001 to 31 March 2002 0 
			 Treasure Valuation Committee Prof Norman Palmer 3 May 2001 to 2 May 2006 0 
			 UK Sport Sir Rodney Walker 7 July 1998 to 18 September 2001 and 19 September 2001 to 18 September 2003 36,705 
			 West Midlands Regional Cultural Consortium Baroness Crawley 30 September 1999 to 29 September 2002 0 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cultural Consortium Chris Heinitz 28 September 1999 to 8 January 2001 0 
			 Yorkshire and Humber Regional Cultural Consortium Clive Leach CBE 27 March 2001 to 26 March 2004 0 
		
	
	(11) From 1 April 2000 the BFI ceased to be an NDPB, and became a second tier body funded by the new NDPB, the Film Council.
	(12) Before the changes in the Machinery of Government in June 2001, appointments to these NDPB's were the responsibility of the Home Office.
	(13) The position of Chair rotates on an annual basis, with the choice made by members of the Commission.
	Chairs of commissions
	See National Lottery Commission in table.
	Chairs of public inquiries
	None.
	Chairs of agencies
	Royal Parks Advisory Board
	Hilary Lade—1 June 1999 to 30 May 2002
	Remuneration nil
	Chairs of taskforces
	Information on the number, remit and membership of taskforces, ad-hoc advisory groups and reviews has been published by the Cabinet Office on a regular basis. The first report was published on 11 January 2000 and gives information for the period between 1 May 1997 to 31 October 1999. A second report was published on 27 July 2000 and covered the period 1 November 1999 to 30 April 2000. A third report was published on 13 December 2000 covering the period 1 May 2000 to 31 October 2000. The most recent report: "Task Forces, Ad Hoc Advisory Groups and Reviews", was issued in October 2001. Copies of these reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Sport England

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money has been allocated by Sport England to (a) Bradford, (b) Leeds, (c) Sheffield, (d) Manchester and (e) Hull.

Richard Caborn: The total amount of lottery funding awarded by Sport England to each of these cities is as follows:
	
		£ million 
		
			 City Funding awarded 
		
		
			 Bradford 4.3 
			 Leeds 26.8 
			 Sheffield 42.1 
			 Manchester 120.1 
			 Kingston upon Hull 1.5

Commonwealth Games

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much Government funding is being made available to Manchester to support the Commonwealth Games.

Richard Caborn: The Government announced on 2 July 2001 up to £30 million in support for the Games. This was part of the £80 million in additional funding and £25 million contingency fund for the Games made up of funds from Manchester city council, Sport England and Government announced on the same day. We have also given a further £10.5 million towards the costs of the opening and closing ceremonies. This brings Government assistance to the Games to a total of £40.5 million.

Gambling

Janet Dean: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the impact on the number of public houses if the number of gaming machines is restricted as recommended by the Budd report;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the impact on employment in the gaming machine industry if the recommendations of the Budd report are agreed.

Richard Caborn: We have made no estimates. The Government published the report of the independent Gambling Review Body, chaired by Sir Alan Budd, in July last year and have been considering all the comments on it received since then. These include representations which argue that there would be adverse consequences for the gaming machines industry and the licensed trade if the Government were fully to implement the report's recommendations about gaming machines in pubs.
	I expect that we will be in a position to announce our conclusions within the next two months.

Sports Clubs

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the Home Office and what assessment she has made of the constitutional, administrative and financial implications for community amateur sports clubs seeking charitable status under the terms outlined in the Treasury consultation paper, "Promoting Sport in the Community".

Richard Caborn: Neither my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State nor I have discussed these issues with the Home Office. However, I am fully aware of the concerns of many sports clubs about the possible implications of applying for charitable status under the Charity Commission's proposals (as outlined in "Promoting Sport in the Community"). These issues have been considered in detail by the DCMS Tax Working Group, which includes representatives of my Department, Sport England, the Central Council of Physical Recreation and other interested bodies, and I shall be discussing them with John Stoker of the Charity Commission when I meet him on 12 February.

Sports Clubs

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the answer from the Minister for Sport of 17 January 2001, Official Report, column 473W, on sports clubs, if she will publish evidence to support his statement that the majority of local authorities grant 100 per cent. rate relief.

Richard Caborn: No detailed figures exist for the numbers of clubs currently receiving discretionary rates relief from local authorities. My answer of 17 January to the hon. Member for East Devon (Mr. Swire) was based on general information provided to DCMS by sport's representative bodies in the course of discussions before, and since, the issue of the Treasury's consultation document, "Promoting Sport in the Community", in November 2001.

Sport Funding

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will provide an analysis for the money provided to sport in the UK since 1977, broken down by source; and what her plans for future expenditure are.

Richard Caborn: The main Exchequer and lottery funding provided to sport in England is as follows. Funding for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is a devolved matter and is an issue for those Administrations.
	
		£ million 
		
			  GBSC ESC UKSC SM(E) Lottery Other Exchequer 
		
		
			 1977–78 11.50 — — — — — 
			 1978–79 15.20 — — — — — 
			 1979–80 15.58 — — — — — 
			 1980–81 19.29 — — — — — 
			 1981–82 21.03 — — — — — 
			 1982–83 28.00 — — — — — 
			 1983–84 27.12 — — — — — 
			 1984–85 28.60 — — — — — 
			 1985–86 30.11 — — — — — 
			 1986–87 37.35 — — — — — 
			 1987–88 37.15 — — — — — 
			 1988–89 38.41 — — — — — 
			 1989–90 41.88 — — — — — 
			 1990–91 44.75 — — — — — 
			 1991–92 46.70 — — — — — 
			 1992–93 48.60 — — 1 — 0.9 
			 1993–94 50.60 — — 2.9 — 0.9 
			 1994–95 48.90 — — 3.3 48.88 0.9 
			 1995–96 49.25 — — 3.7 255.21 0.9 
			 1996–97 28.17 15.24 4.00 3.2 263.94 0.9 
			 1997–98 — 33.73 11.80 3.2 302.92 0.9 
			 1998–99 — 33.29 11.60 3.2 252.26 0.9 
			 1999–2000 — 34.50 12.60 3.37 212.48 0.9 
			 2000–01 — 34.6 12.6 3.37 223.47 1.475 
			 2001–02 — 39.6 17.6 3.43 224 5.475 
			 2002–03 — 49.7 19.6 3.43 (14)202 10.980 
			 2003–04 — 74.6 19.6 3.43 (14)188 35.485 
			 2004–05 — — — — (14)185 0.960 
			 2005–06 — — — — (14)185 — 
		
	
	(14) Figures for 2002–03 onwards are estimates
	Notes:
	GBSC = Great Britain Sports Council
	ESC = English Sports Council
	UKSC = United Kingdom Sports Council (established in September 1996 and became fully operational in January 1997)
	SM(E) = Sportsmatch(England) (Established in November 1992 Sportsmatch allocation paid by Sport England from 1999–2000)
	GBSC funding directed towards England and GB-wide issues
	FLA = Football Licensing Authority
	Other Exchequer includes Commonwealth Games, the Football Licensing Authority, the Volunteering in Sport initiative, funding for the British Chess Foundation, and funding towards children's play.
	1. Additional funding includes £14.2 million in 2001–02, £24.3 million in 2002–03 and £34.7 million in 2003–04, which will be distributed to Specialist Sports Colleges. Funds will be distributed by DFES to individual sports colleges. This scheme was announced July 2000.
	2. In addition there are also a number of sport funding programmes which are funded through the New Opportunities Fund:
	£581 million in England will be provided through the PE and Sport
	Programme. All funding will be committed by 2005. Announced by Prime Minister in September 2000. Local education authorities will act as lead organisations in submitting applications to the New Opportunities Fund;
	£30 million for England to be administered by Sport England via the
	Playing Fields and Community Green Spaces scheme. It is planned that all funding will be committed by 2005. Scheme commenced in April 2001;
	£9 million is to be delivered by Barnardo's and Children's Play
	Council through the Better Play Grant programme. Planned that all
	funding will be committed by 2003;
	£38.75 million to be committed by 2003 through the Activities for
	Young People programme. Distributed by NOF to lead organisations in 47 Connexions areas. Launched in August 2001;
	£25.5 million to be committed by 2004 through the Out of School Hours Sport Activities scheme. This will be distributed through partnership between NOF and Sports Councils;
	£130 million to be distributed through the Space for Sport and Arts
	scheme 2003–04. Grants paid to local education authorities by Sport
	England which is administering the scheme. The scheme was announced in March 2001.

Sport Funding

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value was of the (a) National Lottery and (b) Treasury contribution to (i) Sport England, (ii) UK Sport and (iii) other such funded sporting bodies in (A) 1997–98, (B) 1998–99, (C) 1999–2000 and (D) 2000–01.

Kim Howells: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The information requested is set out in the table.
	
		£ 
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
		
		
			  (a) National Lottery   
			 Sport England 268,223,735 211,013,692 188,916,494 195,066,428 
			 UK Sport 0 0 16,496,000 20,123,262 
			  
			 (b) Treasury 
			 Sport England 33,725,000 33,289,000 33,873,000 37,973,000 
			 UK sport 11,800,000 11,600,000 12,600,000 12,600,000 
			 The FLA 900,000 900,000 900,000 925,000

Lottery Funding (Distribution)

Bill Tynan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will announce the names of the 50 areas to be targeted in the effort to ensure equitable regional distribution of lottery funding; and what criteria her Department is using to determine the areas.

Richard Caborn: The initiative will target deprived areas which have fared relatively badly from lottery funding. The decision on which areas the initiative will support is a matter for the Community Fund and New Opportunities Fund. The full list of areas to benefit has yet to be finalised but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State expects to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

Libraries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many libraries have (a) opened and (b) closed since 1997.

Kim Howells: The number of library openings and closures is not held centrally. However, the total number of libraries in England between 1996–97 and 1999–2000 was:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1996–97 3,083 
			 1997–98 3,053 
			 1998–99 3,037 
			 1999–2000 3,031 
		
	
	Note:
	The figures reflect branch and central libraries only. They do not include mobile libraries or special services provided by English library authorities to senior citizens' homes and others in sheltered housing schemes. In 1999–2000 the figures for these two types of provision were, respectively, 440 mobiles and 14,617 outlets in institutions.

Libraries

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding was given to libraries to increase the range of their services in the last 12 months.

Kim Howells: Core funding for public libraries is provided through the Environmental Protection and Cultural Services (EPCS) Block. In the latest Local Government Financial Settlement (for 2002–03) the funds for this block were increased by 4.2 per cent., a real terms increase of 1.7 per cent.
	It is for local authorities to decide how much of their EPCS funding to allocate to their libraries in line with their statutory duty to provide library services that are comprehensive and efficient.
	Specific project funding of over £2.3 million has been made available in 2000–01 through the joint DCMS/ Wolfson Foundation Public Libraries Challenge Fund.
	Through the New Opportunities Fund Community Access to Lifelong Learning Programme £120 million of lottery funding is being made available to enable all public libraries to offer public internet access and ICT learning facilities by December 2002.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Transitional Funding

Paul Daisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list by local education authority and for each financial year for which the present grant maintained transitional funding arrangements have been in operation (a) the level of transitional grant payable by the local education authority to former grant maintained schools and (b) the level of grant paid by the Department to the local education authority towards meeting the cost.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 January 2002
	The information requested is set out in the following table. No grant was payable by the Department in respect of transitional funding for former grant-maintained schools in the financial year 1999–2000. Comprehensive figures for the financial year 2001–02 are not yet available.
	
		Transitional funding for former grant-maintained schools, by LEA -- £
		
			1999–2000  2000–01  
			   LEA Transitional Funding Transitional funding DfEE grant 
		
		
			 302 Barnet 71,031 530,634 195,885 
			 800 Bath and NE Somerset 0 176,783 120,106 
			 820 Bedfordshire 885,955 768,730 407,874 
			 303 Bexley 95,848 44,174 37,034 
			 330 Birmingham 1,642,412 1,692,411 1,025,975 
			 889 Blackburn with Darwen 34,672 0 0 
			 350 Bolton 184,475 259,095 190,428 
			 837 Bournemouth 0 578,784 293,882 
			 380 Bradford 147,960 0 0 
			 304 Brent 2,123,836 2,299,839 995,431 
			 305 Bromley 1,392,578 783,673 581,622 
			 825 Buckinghamshire 761,590 793,965 288,901 
			 351 Bury 35,346 17,575 16,954 
			 381 Calderdale 65,817 12,696 12,696 
			 873 Cambridgeshire 688,107 323,530 195,964 
			 202 Camden 291,273 108,754 19,240 
			 875 Cheshire 69,279 142,966 58,816 
			 892 City of Nottingham 190,075 65,362 65,362 
			 874 City of Peterborough 504,672 62,835 60,937 
			 879 City of Plymouth 108,504 77,238 49,615 
			 908 Cornwall 24,074 0 0 
			 306 Croydon 500,640 652,682 405,598 
			 909 Cumbria 649,980 388,718 198,556 
			 831 Derby 225,299 0 0 
			 830 Derbyshire 269,787 175,616 128,227 
			 878 Devon 122,660 256,891 202,821 
			 371 Doncaster 0 0 0 
			 835 Dorset 55,256 62,010 30,728 
			 332 Dudley 60,516 58,637 58,637 
			 307 Ealing 594,335 310,791 260,371 
			 811 East Riding of Yorkshire 140,971 103,829 29,416 
			 308 Enfield 80,452 119,981 119,172 
			 881 Essex 950,631 769,272 630,844 
			 916 Gloucestershire 662,130 191,671 191,671 
			 203 Greenwich 84,453 115,942 24,592 
			 204 Hackney 40,160 6,039 6,039 
			 876 Halton 128,574 41,673 41,673 
			 205 Hammersmith and Fulham 187,471 315,634 100,010 
			 850 Hampshire 1,528,892 842,926 527,765 
			 309 Haringey 102,843 0 0 
			 310 Harrow 57,105 53,737 40,388 
			 311 Havering 36,160 0 0 
			 919 Hertfordshire 1,186,804 880,096 585,439 
			 312 Hillingdon 211,838 481,515 192,612 
			 313 Hounslow 53,507 0 0 
			 207 Kensington and Chelsea 320,136 178,120 99,445 
			 886 Kent 1,573,338 429,705 322,950 
			 314 Kingston-upon-Thames 205,874 171,245 57,363 
			 382 Kirklees 0 0 0 
			 340 Knowsley 145,282 147,431 52,585 
			 208 Lambeth 1,290,889 3,290,324 653,913 
			 888 Lancashire 460,342 418,547 196,887 
			 383 Leeds 7,047 50,955 48,533 
			 856 Leicester City 0 0 0 
			 855 Leicestershire 142,928 147,873 123,545 
			 209 Lewisham 124,228 107,826 29,306 
			 925 Lincolnshire 1,736,810 726,020 500,963 
			 341 Liverpool 236,785 28,608 18,954 
			 821 Luton 518,253 492,626 284,149 
			 352 Manchester 0 0 0 
			 887 Medway 0 39,815 39,815 
			 315 Merton 102,048 65,718 63,267 
			 826 Milton Keynes 1,720,803 1,140,724 367,308 
			 316 Newham 0 97,518 67,692 
			 926 Norfolk 290,250 674,673 527,581 
			 392 North Tyneside 29,430 0 0 
			 815 North Yorkshire 14,009 27,152 3,072 
			 928 Northamptonshire 0 0 0 
			 929 Northumberland 4,412 493 493 
			 891 Nottinghamshire 241,444 204,787 106,176 
			 931 Oxfordshire 14,212 0 0 
			 836 Poole 0 0 0 
			 851 Portsmouth 106,441 25,600 18,174 
			 870 Reading 160,112 288,276 128,445 
			 317 Redbridge 36,118 100,035 41,613 
			 354 Rochdale 0 50,393 38,649 
			 857 Rutland 51,266 36,622 10,883 
			 355 Salford 142,434 101,789 41,316 
			 333 Sandwell 174,859 74,434 54,019 
			 373 Sheffield n/a 694,477 214,427 
			 893 Shropshire 50,261 81,801 62,413 
			 871 Slough 40,048 24,876 10,926 
			 334 Solihull 11,525 0 0 
			 933 Somerset 174,827 235,726 65,257 
			 852 Southampton 36,860 43,883 43,883 
			 882 Southend 459,236 49,719 46,170 
			 210 Southwark 210,422 29,184 25,957 
			 860 Staffordshire 141,638 149,237 138,410 
			 861 Stoke 29,437 144,425 71,418 
			 936 Surrey 1,816,620 1,145,033 540,039 
			 319 Sutton 186,052 0 0 
			 866 Swindon 369,963 197,579 196,778 
			 357 Tameside 10,098 25,408 25,408 
			 894 Telford and Wrekin 0 0 0 
			 883 Thurrock 55,824 80,996 51,327 
			 880 Torbay 127,842 151,976 82,767 
			 211 Tower Hamlets 0 0 0 
			 358 Trafford 551,626 0 0 
			 335 Walsall 156,050 193,182 130,414 
			 320 Waltham Forest 634,230 638,143 241,662 
			 212 Wandsworth 1,992,248 2,322,908 636,380 
			 937 Warwickshire 352,368 770,093 349,159 
			 869 West Berkshire 234,476 150,876 97,074 
			 938 West Sussex 23,921 51,545 19,735 
			 865 Wiltshire 86,110 211,455 164,937 
			 868 Windsor and Maidenhead 102,045 154,079 66,864 
			 344 Wirral 207,686 229,985 177,210 
			 872 Wokingham 7,616 17,988 12,540 
			 336 Wolverhampton 445,066 268,721 170,163 
			 885 Worcestershire 40,033 31,986 14,317 
		
	
	Notes:
	The figures relating to 1999–2000 derive from information provided by local education authorities, through the budget statements produced by them under section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and in response to subsequent inquiries by the Department.
	n/a—indicates that figures are not available.
	The figures for 2000–01 are derived from LEAs' section 52 budget statements, modified where necessary in the light of information subsequently provided by LEAs in connection with their grant claims; and from the Department's grant records.

Transitional Funding

Paul Daisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list by local education authority and for each financial year for which present arrangements have been in operation the former grant maintained schools with protected funding receiving transitional funding of more than 5 per cent. of their protected funding, indicating in each case (a) the level of transitional grant and (b) the transitional grant as a percentage of the protected funding.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 25 January 2002
	The information requested for the financial years 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is set out in tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Comprehensive figures for the financial year 2001–02 are not yet available.

LEAs (Repairs)

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 447W, on LEAs (Repairs), if she will categorise the estimated cost of repair or renewal work needed for each local authority by (a) priority 1, (b) priority 2 and (c) priority 3 work.

John Healey: The following table summarises school premises condition information derived from the asset management plan data provided by local education authorities. Priority 1 covers urgent work; Priority 2 shows work needed within two years; Priority 3 is for work needed within three to five years. Costs have been adjusted to current prices and take account of regional variations in pricing levels.
	The figures are derived from data supplied by LEAs over the past two years, based on surveys carried out mainly in 1999 or early 2000. Over £5.5 billion of capital funding has been made available by the Department from 1999–2000 until 2001–02, enabling LEAs and schools to tackle a significant proportion of the school repair and renewal needs which had built up over many years. A further £6.3 billion will be available from 2002–03 to 2003–04.
	
		£ million 
		
			 AMP condition data Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 2 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 0.2 3.8 0.4 
			 Barnet 7.1 32.9 5.0 
			 Barnsley 0.8 23.3 11.7 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3.2 8.8 7.4 
			 Bedfordshire 0.1 29.2 14.3 
			 Bexley 5.4 10.9 12.3 
			 Birmingham 34.2 56.6 43.7 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1.2 7.4 6.0 
			 Bolton 1.0 25.4 23.0 
			 Bournemouth 1.8 6.6 9.2 
			 Bracknell Forest 0.7 7.7 2.8 
			 Brent 2.6 6.8 24.8 
			 Brighton and Hove 0.0 11.7 10.1 
			 Bristol, City of 5.5 35.3 30.4 
			 Bromley 5.7 3.3 18.6 
			 Buckinghamshire 2.4 25.7 31.7 
			 Cambridgshire 1.5 29.3 33.2 
			 Camden 4.9 1.1 7.5 
			 Cheshire 1.4 16.4 31.2 
			 Cornwall 0.0 25.2 39.3 
			 Coventry 2.9 14.2 17.0 
			 Croydon 7.6 9.0 2.3 
			 Cumbria 0.7 10.9 43.3 
			 Darlington 0.1 8.0 10.9 
			 Derby, City of 14.7 9.4 19.5 
			 Derbyshire 3.0 90.0 50.5 
			 Devon 3.2 37.7 45.1 
			 Doncaster 0.0 10.2 60.4 
			 Dorset 3.0 20.6 32.3 
			 Durham 0.1 59.1 45.9 
			 Ealing 16.4 13.1 7.0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 1.0 29.0 52.1 
			 East Sussex 5.9 16.0 11.3 
			 Enfield 2.1 23.5 23.5 
			 Essex 16.5 95.9 51.8 
			 Gateshead 3.2 6.0 7.5 
			 Gloucestershire 1.8 30.5 13.1 
			 Greenwich 7.4 22.5 3.4 
			 Hackney 3.3 18.5 9.2 
			 Halton 2.1 1.5 14.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 3.1 7.5 6.5 
			 Hampshire 7.6 93.5 147.2 
			 Harrow 2.1 8.3 8.8 
			 Hartlepool 1.1 8.0 6.8 
			 Havering 6.1 15.5 25.3 
			 Herefordshire 0.0 10.4 4.7 
			 Hertfordshire 5.0 39.6 39.1 
			 Hillingdon 3.4 11.1 10.7 
			 Hounslow 2.0 14.4 12.2 
			 Isle of Wight 1.9 6.3 7.3 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 2.8 1.4 2.9 
			 Kent 6.2 70.4 43.2 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull, City of 0.0 24.2 28.1 
			 Kingston-upon-Thames 5.4 8.7 7.0 
			 Kirklees 25.5 18.0 41.6 
			 Knowsley 1.5 7.4 25.8 
			 Lancashire 18.2 167.5 79.0 
			 Leeds 22.8 56.3 61.9 
			 Leicester, City of 0.1 22.7 16.8 
			 Leicestershire 4.0 38.0 30.5 
			 Lewisham 2.9 14.4 24.8 
			 Lincolnshire 10.0 12.0 12.7 
			 Liverpool 21.2 21.1 16.2 
			 Luton 2.1 11.2 13.4 
			 Manchester 35.8 10.0 45.7 
			 Medway 0.1 10.0 13.8 
			 Merton 0.0 12.5 6.2 
			 Milton Keynes 0.3 7.6 20.3 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 0.9 35.9 33.8 
			 Newham 9.7 10.0 24.9 
			 Norfolk 11.8 35.6 27.7 
			 North-East Lincolnshire 6.2 32.3 6.9 
			 North Lincolnshire 2.7 5.1 10.3 
			 North Somerset 5.7 15.2 5.5 
			 North Tyneside 0.8 13.1 18.9 
			 North Yorkshire 3.9 11.2 28.9 
			 Northamptonshire 2.4 21.4 40.6 
			 Northumberland 0.0 32.8 18.9 
			 Nottingham 1.0 26.1 25.7 
			 Nottinghamshire 3.5 48.5 58.2 
			 Oldham 0.1 34.4 26.3 
			 Oxfordshire 0.0 53.6 10.6 
			 Peterborough 8.1 9.7 14.1 
			 Plymouth 5.7 15.4 18.8 
			 Poole 0.0 4.5 11.4 
			 Portsmouth 0.0 10.3 10.3 
			 Reading 3.0 11.7 4.7 
			 Redbridge 0.3 13.9 19.2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0.0 15.7 11.6 
			 Rochdale 12.7 15.8 25.9 
			 Rotherham 19.9 15.7 27.6 
			 Rutland 0.5 1.3 2.0 
			 Sandwell 0.3 17.9 6.2 
			 Sefton 5.9 33.9 11.3 
			 Sheffield 12.8 22.5 35.8 
			 Shropshire 0.7 11.4 13.1 
			 Slough 5.5 7.3 5.9 
			 Solihull 2.9 5.7 13.9 
			 Somerset 0.0 27.9 24.3 
			 South Gloucestershire 5.1 12.6 15.7 
			 South Tyneside 0.0 16.4 14.2 
			 Southend-on-Sea 0.0 4.4 8.2 
			 Southwark 0.9 13.9 9.1 
			 St. Helens 0.3 5.8 17.8 
			 Staffordshire 0.0 43.3 40.0 
			 Stockport 8.3 8.1 56.7 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 17.3 12.2 17.2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 22.0 42.2 0.5 
			 Suffolk 13.2 9.7 19.2 
			 Sunderland 26.6 15.3 12.3 
			 Surrey 0.6 49.7 18.9 
			 Sutton 1.0 10.4 4.7 
			 Swindon 7.4 20.4 15.9 
			 Tameside 3.1 19.5 10.8 
			 Telford and Wrekin 7.1 7.7 20.1 
			 Thurrock 0.2 6.8 11.8 
			 Torbay 2.2 4.8 4.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 0.3 10.2 17.5 
			 Trafford 7.2 1.9 29.2 
			 Wakefield 11.1 24.9 36.0 
			 Walsall 7.6 40.0 16.5 
			 Waltham Forest 1.7 12.6 13.5 
			 Wandsworth 0.7 40.1 9.1 
			 Warrington 3.6 9.2 13.4 
			 West Berkshire 5.5 7.1 4.6 
			 West Sussex 4.2 27.1 45.1 
			 Westminster 4.3 8.1 12.0 
			 Wiltshire 0.0 36.3 20.5 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 2.3 7.4 22.8 
			 Wirral 35.4 6.7 17.7 
			 Wokingham 6.2 16.8 1.7 
			 Wolverhampton 10.6 17.3 15.7 
			 Worcestershire 1.5 38.7 20.2 
			  
			 Total 710.4 2,844.4 2,827.6 
		
	
	Note:
	Fifteen authorities are currently reviewing their assessments.
	More work is needed to confirm the data, but initial broad estimates
	are that these authorities' needs amount to £55 million, £250 million and £330 million of Priority 1, 2 and 3 work respectively.

Accountancy Contracts

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many contracts were let by her Department and agencies for which she is responsible to (a) PWC Consulting or PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Ernst and Young, (c) Deloitte and Touche, (d) KPMG and (e) Andersen for consultancy services for the financial years (i) 1997–98, (ii) 1998–99, (iii) 1999–2000, (iv) 2000–01 and (v) 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available, indicating the remuneration in each case.

Ivan Lewis: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Underspend

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total underspend in her Department was on (a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure in each financial year since May 1997.

Estelle Morris: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The split into capital and non-capital is shown in the table.
	
		£ million 
		
			 Year Current underspend Capital underspend Total underspend 
		
		
			 2000–01 343 1,111 1,454 
			 1999–2000 129 699 828 
			 1998–99 55 604 659 
			 1997–98 25 335 360 
		
	
	The total underspends for 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are calculated against the departmental expenditure limits (including programmes funded from the windfall tax), whereas the underspend for 1997–98 is calculated against the old control total.
	Since 1998–99 Departments have been allowed to carry forward any DEL budget provision that is not spent in one year into the following year. More limited end year flexibility applied before this date. The change in carry forward has enabled the Department to better manage its resources and the Secretary of State uses this mechanism to deploy resources under her control where they are most needed and to ensure spending is profiled to maximise value for money.

Study Leave

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if the results of the statistical impact of "Right to Time Off for Study" for 16 to 17-year-olds have been published.

Ivan Lewis: No. This information is not collected centrally.

Departmental Publications

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list the publications issued by her Department in each of the last four years; and what the (a) circulation, (b) cost and (c) purpose of each was.

Ivan Lewis: It is not possible to list each new publication issued by the Department since 1997 without disproportionate expense. Within the Department's advertising and publicity budget, the total spend on publications since April 1997 is £8 million, broken down as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
		
		
			 1997–98 2.1 
			 1997–99 0.8 
			 1999–2000 2.8 
			 2000–01 2.3 
		
	
	The figures do not include spending by the Department's agencies.

New Schools

Debra Shipley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 720W, how much capital funding was provided for new school places in each education authority since 1997.

John Healey: We do not hold information in the form requested before 1998–99. The allocation of borrowing approvals to local education authorities for the provision of new school places from 1998–99 until 2002–03 is shown in the table. Local education authorities will be able to confirm actual investment in the provision of school places.
	
		Capital funding for new school places -- £000
		
			 Local education authority 1998–99 1999–200 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 Total 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham 632 530 0 2,274 0 3,436 
			 Barnet 1,196 0 0 0 0 1,196 
			 Barnsley 79 0 0 0 0 79 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 120 0 528 1,340 1,943 3,931 
			 Bedfordshire 1,731 2,547 1,981 7,278 1,323 14,860 
			 Bexley 3,259 2,175 2,110 4,404 0 11,948 
			 Birmingham 110 0 0 0 1,379 1,489 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 0 0 0 0 45 45 
			 Blackpool 0 5,291 1,397 4,230 0 10,918 
			 Bolton 1,088 913 591 0 0 2,592 
			 Bournemouth 751 1,472 0 0 0 2,223 
			 Brent 0 1,070 3,010 0 1,658 5,738 
			 Brighton and Hove 1,876 3,316 0 765 951 6,908 
			 Bromley 0 1,198 0 0 0 1,198 
			 Buckinghamshire 4,579 5,372 2,490 1,822 4,203 18,466 
			 Bury 0 4,198 0 0 0 4,198 
			 Calderdale 930 0 1,238 341 1,086 3,595 
			 Cambridgeshire 4,614 6,792 8,563 9,648 12,358 41,975 
			 Camden 496 290 806 0 500 2,092 
			 Cheshire 2,332 2,707 5,018 1,685 2,925 14,667 
			 Cornwall 3,217 6,793 6,579 6,557 5,922 29,068 
			 Croydon 351 1,070 0 2,871 0 4,292 
			 Cumbria 1,844 2,764 3,388 3,420 2,142 13,558 
			 Derby 993 532 0 1,629 291 3,445 
			 Derbyshire 476 1,728 1,079 2,683 7,054 13,020 
			 Devon 3,682 7,526 4,648 16,563 23,246 55,665 
			 Doncaster 0 2,002 0 141 0 2,143 
			 Dorset 1,460 586 2,624 2,063 2,108 8,841 
			 Dudley 321 2,266 1,736 0 0 4,323 
			 Durham 0 0 765 0 0 765 
			 Ealing 502 1,614 0 932 1,649 4,697 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 4,148 9,087 3,333 1,239 6,459 24,266 
			 East Sussex 3,139 2,208 4,172 4,113 10,949 24,581 
			 Enfield 5,347 0 0 5,589 18,998 29,934 
			 Essex 4,182 6,661 10,462 11,782 7,608 40,695 
			 Gloucestershire 2,109 7,767 12,942 5,159 7,501 35,478 
			 Hackney 3,205 0 0 5,001 0 8,206 
			 Halton 0 506 100 0 0 606 
			 Hampshire 2,037 7,885 5,661 8,699 11,210 35,492 
			 Haringey 2,100 2,141 2,210 7,647 10,458 24,556 
			 Havering 0 0 0 3,303 0 3,303 
			 Herefordshire 1,490 3,083 58 570 2,054 7,255 
			 Hertfordshire 2,165 1,779 3,675 4,345 6,589 18,553 
			 Hillingdon 1,068 0 6,644 0 2,651 10,363 
			 Hounslow 1,419 0 0 0 648 2,067 
			 Isle of Wight 1,930 3,955 3,497 2,399 3,379 15,160 
			 Kent 1,043 11,664 16,639 21,971 41,915 93,232 
			 Kirklees 953 563 2,476 2,019 816 6,827 
			 Knowsley 1,228 0 0 1,086 0 2,314 
			 Lancashire 1,130 3,367 2,656 235 801 8,189 
			 Leeds 405 1,814 2,639 1,804 1,210 7,872 
			 Leicestershire 1,419 3,693 911 4,033 1,333 11,389 
			 Lewisham 0 0 0 0 10,201 10,201 
			 Lincolnshire 1,311 6,746 11,208 5,496 1,551 26,312 
			 Luton 0 0 0 0 1,935 1,935 
			 Manchester 0 0 0 0 1,572 1,572 
			 Medway 0 851 9,842 4,832 7,990 23,515 
			 Milton Keynes 7,758 4,074 1,604 8,263 0 21,699 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 314 0 0 0 0 314 
			 Newham 4,468 3,750 1,887 899 13,154 24,158 
			 Norfolk 3,039 3,209 7,729 5,761 10,012 29,750 
			 North Lincolnshire 0 0 226 390 209 825 
			 North Somerset 1,336 0 1,582 0 992 3,910 
			 North Tyneside 229 734 1,605 1,232 0 3,800 
			 North Yorkshire 2,395 3,926 5,552 5,952 8,017 25,842 
			 Northamptonshire 3,266 4,563 6,350 2,561 7,299 24,039 
			 Northumberland 359 957 280 900 0 2,496 
			 Nottinghamshire 332 0 0 1,059 2,301 3,692 
			 Oldham 1,008 0 0 0 0 1,008 
			 Oxfordshire 5,945 4,036 5,048 9,055 9,254 33,338 
			 Peterborough 0 1,855 0 460 0 2,315 
			 Plymouth 0 0 0 0 6,987 6,987 
			 Poole 0 0 0 0 290 290 
			 Portsmouth 537 838 0 0 0 1,375 
			 Reading 376 0 3,400 0 0 3,776 
			 Redbridge 27 4,761 3,123 580 0 8,491 
			 Richmond upon Thames 2,945 0 0 0 0 2,945 
			 Rotherham 608 675 0 5,510 608 7,401 
			 Salford 0 0 0 0 2,292 2,292 
			 Sandwell 0 986 0 0 0 986 
			 Sefton 0 459 578 643 1,280 2,960 
			 Sheffield 209 1,624 2,954 0 0 4,787 
			 Shropshire 1,157 1,135 2,438 2,132 279 7,141 
			 Slough 0 0 110 576 197 883 
			 Solihull 2,089 1,829 2,441 4,886 0 11,245 
			 Somerset 430 1,349 4,262 3,142 1,345 10,528 
			 South Gloucestershire 929 2,716 4,671 2,949 1,126 12,391 
			 Southampton 451 2,315 1,164 0 0 3,930 
			 Southend-on-Sea 0 0 3,577 1,441 1,440 6,458 
			 Southwark 0 0 0 785 0 785 
			 Staffordshire 1,753 10,690 10,867 6,382 2,100 31,792 
			 Stockport 149 2,166 4,594 0 0 6,909 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 0 0 1,213 2,185 0 3,398 
			 Suffolk 3,659 8,500 7,892 8,013 11,765 39,829 
			 Sunderland 0 0 1,800 152 0 1,952 
			 Surrey 1,236 90 12,093 7,451 11,720 32,590 
			 Sutton 2,228 2,208 5,768 0 4,661 14,865 
			 Swindon 653 0 0 0 19,074 19,727 
			 Tameside 259 298 187 0 0 744 
			 Telford and Wrekin 909 1,340 2,716 902 7,731 13,598 
			 Thurrock 42 1,079 5,023 0 0 6,144 
			 Torbay 1,504 1,286 1,477 645 0 4,912 
			 Trafford 239 548 4,203 0 0 4,990 
			 Wakefield 0 4,677 607 0 0 5,284 
			 Walsall 0 353 0 0 602 955 
			 Waltham Forest 1,527 948 0 1,108 1,826 5,409 
			 Wandsworth 426 1,481 0 0 0 1,907 
			 Warrington 211 623 4,451 2,643 1,764 9,692 
			 Warwickshire 1,662 1,542 832 838 918 5,792 
			 West Berkshire 633 0 2,206 0 2,102 4,941 
			 West Sussex 1,260 2,386 1,253 3,278 7,467 15,644 
			 Westminster 0 0 0 0 3,700 3,700 
			 Wigan 0 4,137 885 0 8,426 13,448 
			 Wiltshire 2,629 646 2,822 4,312 2,133 12,542 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 909 0 0 341 0 1,250 
			 Wokingham 415 1,154 4,168 1,999 747 8,483 
			 Wolverhampton 0 0 343 0 0 343 
			 Worcestershire 2,988 7,575 2,574 3,125 4,422 20,684 
			 York 5 0 0 0 90 95 
			  
			 Total 143,970 238,040 286,231 274,518 386,941 1,329,700 
		
	
	Note:
	These figures show new allocations of basic need funding for additional school places. This funding is delivered over three years in a 35 per cent./50 per cent./15 per cent. split. The figures do not, therefore, correspond to the funding received by local education authorities in these years

Accountancy Contracts

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the (a) number and (b) value of contracts awarded by her Department to (i) Arthur Andersen, (ii) Deloitte Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iv) KPMG and (v) PricewaterhouseCoopers accountants in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Individual Learning Accounts

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills from whom she received advice concerning possible abuse of the Individual Learning Accounts scheme prior to its commencement; and what response was given by her Department.

John Healey: holding answer 11 February 2002
	My Department actively engaged a wide range of key stakeholders in the development of the Individual Learning Accounts programme. For example, a number of seminars were held with learning providers in 2000, prior to the introduction of the National Framework for Individual Learning Accounts, and these continued into 2001. At these and other similar events and meetings providers expressed a wide range of opinions which helped inform and shape the development, implementation and presentation of ILA policy.

Educational Maintenance Allowance (Lincolnshire)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many recipients of an educational maintenance allowance there are in North East Lincolnshire; and what assessment she has made of the impact of the allowance on encouraging 16 to 18-year-olds to stay in full-time education.

Ivan Lewis: As of the 1 February 2002, 478 students in North East Lincolnshire have received at least one payment of educational maintenance allowance (EMA) this academic year.
	The DfES has commissioned the Centre for Research in Social Policy to conduct a rigorous evaluation of EMAs which is now in its third year of data collection. First year findings have already been published and these early findings show that EMA appears to have raised participation in further education. The statistical analysis estimates an average gain in participation in pilot areas compared to control areas, among EMA eligible young people, of around 5 percentage points.

Internet Training (North-West)

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of teachers have received training for the internet in (a) St. Helens, South, (b) St. Helens MBC area, (c) Merseyside, (d) Manchester, (e) the North West RDA area, (f) the other RDA areas and (g) England.

John Healey: Training for the Internet is covered by the nationally run New Opportunities Fund (NOF) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) teacher training programme. Schools have until the end of March this year to sign up for the NOF training and over 95 per cent. have already done so.
	The information relating to the numbers of teachers who have completed the training is not available by the regional areas requested. However, the figures available as at 31 December 2001 show that 83 per cent. of all teachers in England have registered for, or are currently undertaking, the NOF training and 52 per cent. of all teachers have completed it. Teachers may have also undertaken locally organised training in the use of the internet but figures are not collected on these training schemes centrally. All newly qualified teachers entering the profession will have received training in the use of the internet as part of their initial teacher training.

Working Conditions and Practices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases of work-related stress have been reported in her Department; how much compensation has been paid to employees; how many work days have been lost due to work-related stress, and at what cost; what procedures have been put in place to reduce work-related stress, and at what cost, in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Information is not held by my Department in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Procedures put in place to reduce work related stress include:
	Training events on stress management available to all staff;
	An interactive on-line package to help with recognition and prevention of stress;
	An Employee Assistance Service which includes an advice and counselling service;
	An Occupational Health Service that provides practical advice on occupational health issues; and
	A wide range of initiatives providing practical advice and tips to individuals on techniques to deal with stress and maintain a healthy work life balance.
	My Department is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all its employees. Arising from the Government's Revitalising Health and Safety initiative, it is also committed to meeting targets for reducing the number of working days lost due to work related injuries and illness. This includes ensuring that work practises are safe and free from any hazards to health and that effective occupational health policies and good health management practices are developed.
	No compensation has been paid to employees specifically for work related stress in any of the last three years.

Learning and Skills Councils

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills on what criteria local Learning and Skills Council chairs are to be remunerated for part-time input.

Margaret Hodge: No criteria have been agreed. The current Education Bill includes a clause that would give the Secretary of State for Education and Skills the power to agree terms of remuneration.

FE Colleges

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to reduce the audit burden on further education colleges.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 January 2002, Official Report, columns 134–35W.

FE Colleges

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will publish the criteria under which provider reviews are carried out by the Learning and Skills Council in further education colleges.

Margaret Hodge: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for the reviews of their providers, which include further education colleges. The proposed aims, key areas and evidence requirements for performance reviews were posted on the LSC's website in early September 2001. Views from colleges and other providers, as well as other stakeholders, were sought by December 2001. Drawing on this evaluation, the LSC are publishing a consultation document in early March 2002, which will outline their proposals to simplify and refine the performance review process. Following the consultation, the refined arrangements will be published in autumn 2002.

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which schools broken down by LEA applied for specialist status but were not among the successful applicants announced on 5 February.

Stephen Timms: A list of schools, by LEA, which applied for specialist status in the October 2002 competition, which were not among the successful applicants announced on 5 February 2002 is provided in the following tables.
	
		Schools unsuccessful in their application for specialist status in the October 2001 competition by LEA
		
			 LEA  School Specialism 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham Sydney Russell School (The) Technology 
			 Bedfordshire St. John's School Technology 
			 Bedfordshire Wootton Upper School Arts 
			 Birmingham Castle Vale School Arts 
			 Birmingham Fairfax School Arts 
			 Birmingham Hillcrest School and Sixth Form Centre Language 
			 Blackburn with Darwen Our Lady and Saint John RC High School Arts 
			 Bolton Canon Slade School Arts 
			 Bolton Harper Green School Arts 
			 Bracknell Forest Garth Hill School Technology 
			 Buckinghamshire Waddesdon CE School Arts 
			 Cambridgeshire Bassingbourn Village College Technology 
			 Cheshire Malbank School and Sixth Form Centre Arts 
			 Cheshire Wilmslow High School Arts 
			 Cornwall Looe Community School Arts 
			 Coventry Coventry Blue Coat CE School Arts 
			 Croydon Norbury Manor High School-Girls Language 
			 Cumbria Morton School (The) Arts 
			 Cumbria Thorncliffe School Sports 
			 Derbyshire John Port School Technology 
			 Devon St. Peter's C of E High School Language 
			 Doncaster Campsmount School Technology 
			 Doncaster Rossington High School Sports 
			 Dudley Redhill School Arts 
			 Durham Moorside Community College Technology 
			 Durham Shotton Hall School Arts 
			 Enfield Lea Valley High Sports 
			 Essex Rainsford High School Arts 
			 Gloucestershire Heywood Community School Sports 
			 Gloucestershire Whitecross School Language 
			 Halton Heath School (The) Technology 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham Fulham Cross School Language 
			 Hampshire Brookfield Community School Language 
			 Hampshire Park Community School Arts 
			 Hampshire Vyne Community School (The) Arts 
			 Harrow, London Borough of Hatch End High School (joint with) Nower Hill High School Arts 
			 Havering, London Borough of Abbs Cross School Arts 
			 Havering, London Borough of Emerson Park School Arts 
			 Havering, London Borough of Frances Bardsley School for Girls (The) Arts 
			 Havering, London Borough of Gaynes School Language 
			 Herefordshire John Kyrle High School (The) Technology 
			 Hertfordshire Rickmansworth School Arts 
			 Hertfordshire Roundwood Park School Arts 
			 Hertfordshire St. Michael's Catholic High School Language 
			 Hertfordshire Watford Grammar School for Girls Arts 
			 Hillingdon, London Borough of Uxbridge High School Technology 
			 Kensington and Chelsea, London Borough of Sion Manning RC Girls School Arts 
			 Kent Astor School Arts 
			 Kingston upon Thames Coombe Girls' School Language 
			 Lancashire Parklands High School Language 
			 Lancashire St. Theodore's RC VA High School Sports 
			 Leeds Priesthorpe School Sports 
			 Leeds Roundhay School Technology 
			 Leicestershire Hind Leys Community College Technology 
			 Leistershire Brookvale High School (joint with) Groby Community College Language 
			 Liverpool Shorefields Technology School Technology 
			 Manchester Saint Paul's Catholic High School Technology 
			 Medway Upbury Manor School Arts 
			 Merton Bishopsford Community College Arts 
			 Merton Raynes Park High School Technology 
			 Middlesbrough St. David's Roman Catholic Comprehensive School Technology 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne St. Mary's Catholic Comprehensive School Arts 
			 Norfolk Cliff Park High School Sports 
			 Norfolk Hellesdon High School Technology 
			 Norfolk Hewett School Arts 
			 Norfolk Sprowston High School Arts 
			 Norfolk St. Clement's High School Technology 
			 Norfolk Wymondham High School Arts 
			 North Lincolnshire High Ridge School Sports 
			 North Tyneside Marden High School Arts 
			 North Yorkshire Lady Lumley's School Technology 
			 North Yorkshire Richmond School Arts 
			 Northamptonshire Kingsbrook School Language 
			 Nottinghamshire All Saints' RC School (joint with) The Brunts School Arts 
			 Nottinghamshire Magnus CE School (The) Arts 
			 Nottinghamshire South Wolds School Language 
			 Peterborough Bretton Woods Community School Arts 
			 Reading Highdown School Technology 
			 Redbridge Chadwell Heath Foundation School (The) Arts 
			 Shropshire Belvidere School Technology 
			 Shropshire Corbet School (The) Technology 
			 Shropshire Ludlow Church of England School Technology 
			 Shropshire Thomas Adam School (The) Arts 
			 Solihull Langley School Arts 
			 Southend on Sea Prittlewell School (The) Technology 
			 Staffordshire Blackfriars School (Special) (joint with) Madeley High School Technology 
			 Staffordshire Blake High School (joint with) Kingsmead School Technology 
			 Staffordshire Chase Terrace High School Technology 
			 Stockport Marple Hall School Sports 
			 Stockton on Tees Blakeston Community School Sports 
			 Stoke on Trent St. Margaret Ward Catholic High School and Sixth Form Arts 
			 Suffolk Mildenhall Upper School Technology 
			 Suffolk Sudbury Upper School Arts 
			 Surrey Thamesmead School Arts 
			 Sutton Glenthorn High School Arts 
			 Telford and Wrekin Phoenix School Sports 
			 Trafford Altrincham Grammar School-Boys Language 
			 Trafford Altrincham Grammar School-Girls Language 
			 Wandsworth Battersea Technology College Arts 
			 Warwickshire Aylesford School Language 
			 Warwickshire Stratford Upon Avon Grammar-Girls Language 
			 West Berkshire John O'Gaunt School Technology 
			 West Essex Burnt Mill School (joint with) Stewards School Arts 
			 Wigan Mornington High School Arts 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead, RB of Newlands Girls' School Technology 
			 Wirral St. Anselm's College (joint with) Upton Hall School, FCJ Technology 
			 Wokingham Bulmershe School (The) Sports 
			 Wokingham Maiden Erlegh School Arts 
			 Wokingham Waingel's Copse School Arts 
			 Worcestershire Kingsley College Arts

Specialist Schools

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by what criteria the latest round of schools to achieve specialist status was chosen.

Stephen Timms: Applications for specialist school designation in the October 2001 competition were assessed against the published criteria set out in the guidance documents for Arts, Language, Sport and Technology College applicants. Copies of these have been placed in the Library.

Education Funding

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding allocation is made to the Learning and Skills Council for the education of 14 to 16-year-olds; and when the funding is approved.

John Healey: In the financial year 2001–02, none of the Learning and Skills Council's budgets is specifically targeted at 14 to 16-year-olds in school years 10 and 11. £23 million, however, has been allocated for Education Business Link (EBL) activities. These activities will prepare young people for the workplace and adult life by building effective partnerships between schools and business to enhance the delivery of key skills and the national curriculum. EBL funding is aimed at all school children but includes a commitment for all Key Stage 4 pupils to experience at least two weeks' work experience.
	In the financial year 2002–03 funding for EBL has been subsumed into the LSC's Youth Programmes Budget of £2,708.493 million. This funding will be increased before the start of the financial year to include funding for the "Increased Flexibility for 14 to 16-year-olds" programme. The aim of this programme is to support the development activity necessary to extend vocational options for young people at Key Stage 4 of the national curriculum, in line with commitments in the White Paper: "Schools: Achieving Success" (July 2001).
	There are, of course, in addition to 14 to 16-year-olds in years 10 and 11, large numbers of 16-year-olds being educated in FE colleges and school sixth forms. FE college funding for the financial years 2001–02 and 2002–03 is included in a number of LSC budgets and school sixth form funding in a separate, new LSC budget for 2002–03.
	The LSC is advised of its funding for each financial year in the preceding December by means of a grant letter. It is informed of any new funding throughout the year as this becomes available.

Education Funding

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans she has to converge funding streams for all post-16 provision.

John Healey: We consulted extensively about funding arrangements for post-16 education and training. Planning and implementing these new systems to meet the Government's learning targets is the responsibility of the Learning and Skills Council which has published its corporate plan for the period to 2004 and its plans for developing post-16 funding systems for 2003–04 onwards. The council plans to introduce a common funding approach for 2003–04 in line with our consultations in 1999, 2000 and 2001. Progress to date has been good with development of a consistent national funding system this year for work based learning. Progress in 2002–03 will continue with the development of new funding arrangements for further education and the council's assumption of responsibility for school sixth form funding. We are committed to work with the council to further develop funding systems, to ensure that funding follows the learner and facilitating the development of a rational and coherent approach to funding different forms of post-16 provision.

Excluded Pupils

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of excluded children in authorities with city technology colleges were admitted to such colleges in each of the past three years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available centrally.

Course Completion Rates

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment has been made of the comparative completion rates of on-line learning and those who attend further education colleges.

Ivan Lewis: Information collected does not allow a robust comparison of completion rates of students who study on-line with those who attend further education colleges.

Further Education (Rural Areas)

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the impact of transportation issues on further education in rural areas.

Ivan Lewis: In 2001 we have commissioned a study into transport services and support for students in further education. This highlighted the difficulties in travelling to school and college experienced by students including those in rural areas. Some students do suffer from both a lack of transport services and high costs.
	In response to this, we introduced a clause in the current Education Bill in order to revise section 509 of the Education Act 1996 and to clarify the duty on LEAs. This together with new requirements on the Learning and Skills Council and Further Education Institutions will result in more effective transport services and support for students of 16–19. We are also reviewing the transport support available to older students.
	I have also made available an additional £9 million to 76 LEAs from April 2002 to help them to develop and test the most effective approaches to providing transport support in both urban and rural areas.

Ministerial Trips

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if she will list each of the overseas trips made by herself and other members of her ministerial team in each of the last four years, specifying the purpose and cost of each trip.

Ivan Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 707w.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Departmental Salary Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit in 2001–02 will be accounted for by salary costs and pension contributions.

Denis MacShane: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) departmental expenditure limit (DEL 1 ) for financial year (FY) 2001–02 is £1,018,976,000. FCO projected departmental salary cost 2 for FY 2001–02 is £306,594,875 approximately 30.09 per cent. of the overall DEL.
	1 DEL figure quoted is FCO Gross voted Resource DEL in "Request for Resources 1" (Promoting internationally the interests of the UK and contributing to a strong world community).
	2 Departmental salary cost figure quoted is the combined total of the estimated UK based Paybill spend and the estimated Locally Employed (LE) Paybill spend.

Accountancy Services

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the total cost to his Department was for accountancy services in each of the last four years.

Denis MacShane: The total cost to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for accountancy services for each of the years in question was as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1997–98 267,431 
			 1998–99 1,002,628 
			 1999–2000 181,720 
			 2000–01 384,391 
			 2001 to date 69,937

Lost/stolen Property

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those items valued at less than £50 each which have been stolen or lost from his Department in each of the last four years.

Denis MacShane: A small number of personal effects have been reported lost or stolen from the FCO estate during the last four years. The estimated replacement value of all items is under £50.

Cayman Islands

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since 27 November 2001 the Government of the Cayman Islands has been requested information on taxes by (a) the United States and (b) the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The information is as follows:
	(a) None.
	(b) None.
	The Cayman Islands signed a tax information exchange agreement with the US Government on 27 November 2001. This does not come into effect until January 2004 for criminal matters, and January 2006 for civil and administrative matters. It will not enable the UK to request tax information from the Cayman Islands.

Enron

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Ministers in his Department met representatives of Enron between 11 October 1999 and 7 June 2001; what the reasons for the meetings were; and what follow-up action was taken as a result.

Jack Straw: There were no official meetings held between FCO Ministers and representatives of Enron during this period.

English Teaching (Senegal)

David Borrow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests the British Council have received to increase the provision of English teaching in Senegal since 1997; and what response the Government have made.

Denis MacShane: The British Council has provided English language training for approximately 300 Senegalese schoolteachers for each of the past three years. This followed a request for increased training from the Senegalese Ministry of Education. The council has also provided training requested by the Ministry of Finance and the Senegalese Youth Council. An English language training centre was established in Dakar in 1997. The centre provides a high quality training programme to fee-paying students.
	The British Council also works in partnership with the BBC and four local radio stations to sponsor the transmission of BBC English in four major cities outside Dakar.
	There is substantial demand for English Language Teaching throughout Francophone Africa. The British Council is examining how this demand might be met with the resources available to it.

Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the conditions inside prisons in Afghanistan holding UK prisoners.

Ben Bradshaw: Continuing security risks to our staff travelling outside Kabul and limited capacity place practical limits on what activities we are currently able to undertake in Afghanistan.

Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to assist in providing information to relatives in the UK about the condition of detainees who are British nationals held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Ben Bradshaw: Following the visit of British officials to the three detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials passed messages from the detainees to their families about their health. Officials are in regular contact with those family representatives who wish to be in contact. The ICRC remains the most appropriate body for passing messages to and from the detainees. The organisation has a special role under the Geneva Conventions to do so. The ICRC also has a presence on the base in Guantanamo Bay and is permitted to visit each detainee privately.

Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the International Committee of the Red Cross has access to all places of detention in Afghanistan.

Denis MacShane: The ICRC have informed us that they have access to all known places of detention in Afghanistan, both those under the control of the Afghan authorities and those under the control of US forces.

Detainees

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what logistical support is being offered by Her Majesty's Government to the Afghan Government to assist in the detention of prisoners.

Ben Bradshaw: HMG are not offering any logistical support to the Afghan Government to assist in the detention of prisoners. However, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development gave her on 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 913W—question number 33607.

Opium Poppy Control Agents

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he anticipates the evaluation of the fungus, pleospora papaveracea, will be communicated to him by the United Nations Drugs Control Project; whether it is being used prior to the communication of the research results; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: It is expected that the research, set up by the UNDCP in 1998, to establish the potential of pleospora papaveracea as an opium poppy control agent will not be evaluated until later this year. Pleospora, which is a naturally occurring fungus, has not been used as a means of eradicating poppy cultivation. The research programme ended in the summer of 2001.

Colombia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the activities of the paramilitary group Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia in relation to human rights abuses in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We receive regular reports from the British embassy in Bogota, the Colombian Government, NGOs and others about the murderous activities of the so-called Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC). The AUC commits a large proportion of the human rights abuses in Colombia.
	We continue to urge the Colombian Government to strengthen their efforts to combat paramilitaries, including the AUC, and to take concrete action to dismantle such groups by arresting, prosecuting and punishing those involved. I raised this problem with the Colombian Government during a visit to Colombia last October.

Colombia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the activities of Dyncorp in recruiting mercenaries for action in Colombia in relation to the Government's policy with regard to that country; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have made no assessment of the activities in Colombia of Dyncorp, which is a privately owned US company. Central to our policy towards Colombia is the promotion and protection of human rights, and support for the peace process instigated by President Andres Pastrana.

Colombia

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what involvement British embassy officials in Bogota have in protecting and ensuring the safety of UK citizens who are (a) in the Peace Brigades International in Colombia and (b) prepared to try to shield Colombian citizens from violence; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: As I made clear in my written answer on 23 January 2002, Official Report, column 885W, we strongly support the activities of human rights workers in Colombia, including representatives of Peace Brigades International (PBI). I met a number of human rights defenders, including PBI, during my visit to Colombia last October.
	PBI routinely inform the British embassy in Bogota of their travel and accompanying plans, which the embassy checks against the information available to them to determine if an exceptional risk is involved. Should the embassy have such information they would advise PBI not to travel to that location. Embassy staff have given PBI their personal mobile telephone numbers and are thus available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The embassy has intervened to assist PBI in gaining access to key Colombian officials.
	The Colombian Government have a protection programme for their nationals who are at severe threat from illegal armed groups. The Colombian Government provide bodyguards, protected vehicles and equipment to protect the homes and offices of human rights workers, and trade union leaders.

Gibraltar

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to visit Gibraltar.

Peter Hain: I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given by the Foreign Secretary to the hon. Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) on 14 January 2002, Official Report, columns 28–29.

Gibraltar

Joyce Quin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the visits to Gibraltar by Ministers in his Department since June 2000.

Peter Hain: I visited Gibraltar in September 2001.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official EU observers were admitted to Zimbabwe by (a) 3 February and (b) 5 February; and when each invitation requesting their presence from President Mugabe was received.

Jack Straw: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Four EU representatives, were deployed in Zimbabwe by 3 February, as the first phase of the EU observation mission. Three of these officials were already in Zimbabwe, while the fourth arrived on 3 February. The leader of the EU Mission, Pierre Schori, arrived in Zimbabwe on 10 February but has not yet received accreditation. An official letter to the EU about the deployment of observers from Foreign Minister Mudenge, was sent on 4 February.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 722, on which day the four representatives to which he referred arrived in Zimbabwe.

Jack Straw: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Three of the EU representatives have been in Zimbabwe for some time. The fourth arrived on 3 February.

Zimbabwe

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2002, Official Report, column 722, on Zimbabwe, for what reasons British observers are not included in the EU observation mission.

Jack Straw: holding answer 11 February 2002
	The selection of members of EU electoral observation teams is the responsibility of the European Commission.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to meet Tan Sri Razali Ismail to discuss the situation of the Karen people in Burma.

Ben Bradshaw: Tan Sri Razali Ismail is doing an excellent job as the United Nations Secretary General's Special Envoy to Burma. The Foreign Secretary met him last year and assured him of our full support for his efforts to promote national reconciliation among all the peoples of Burma. Foreign Office officials remain in regular contact with him.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what actions he plans to take against the Burmese Government over their treatment of the Karen people in Burma.

Ben Bradshaw: The UK has been at the forefront of the international community's efforts to press for human rights, national reconciliation and democracy in Burma. The EU Common Position on Burma contains measures targeting the military authorities (such as a visa ban and asset freeze on regime members, an arms embargo, a ban on items that can be used for torture and a ban on non-humanitarian assistance). In addition we do not encourage trade, investment or tourism with Burma. In response to concerns over forced labour, the European Commission suspended Burma's Generalised System of Preferences trading privileges in 1997. These measures will remain in place until there is firm evidence of political progress in Burma.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations his Department has received from (a) hon. Members and (b) others regarding the situation of the Karen people in Burma.

Ben Bradshaw: Records are only available to show the number of letters we receive about Burma issues in general. However the plight of the Karen people is a consistent theme in letters the Foreign Office receives from hon. Members and members of the public. Since January 2001, the Foreign Office has received over 200 letters about Burma from Members of Parliament and over 1,800 letters from members of the public.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress made by the United Nations Special Envoy to Burma.

Ben Bradshaw: Since the beginning of 2001 there has been a modest improvement in the political and human rights situation in Burma. Mr. Razali Ismail is doing an excellent job in promoting national reconciliation in Burma.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the humanitarian situation of refugees who have left Burma and set up camp in Sangklaburi, Thailand.

Ben Bradshaw: The closest camp to Sangklaburi is Ban Don Yang. It hosts around 3,900 refugees. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who provide assistance to the refugees there believe the conditions are generally satisfactory, though not perfect as it is quite isolated and very close to the border. Foreign diplomatic staff including from the British embassy in Bangkok also visit the camp.
	DfID has significantly increased UK funding this year for the UN High Commission for Refugees, the International Commission for the Red Cross and the Burmese Border Consortium for their work with Burmese refugees.

Burma

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) Karen, (b) Karenni and (c) Shan people are estimated to have left Burma following their treatment by the Burmese military.

Ben Bradshaw: Just over 125,000 Burmese refugees live in camps on the Thai/Burmese border, nearly all of whom are from Karen and Karenni states, although exact figures on ethnic background are not kept. In addition there are a large number of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand. Again exact figures are not known, but estimates range form 500,000 to 2 million.

Common Agricultural Policy Budget

Denzil Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate has been made of the annual cost to the CAP budget of paying to (a) Poland and (b) the other accession candidate countries, one-quarter of the value of direct payments normally made to EU farmers.

Peter Hain: The Commission recently presented a framework paper for financing EU enlargement up to 2006. The framework includes a proposal to phase-in direct payments for new member states at a starting level of 25 per cent. in 2004 rising to 35 per cent. in 2006. For the period 2004–06, the Commission estimate the cost of this to be euro 2.6 billion for up to 10 new member states. No estimate of the cost for individual member states is given.

Heads of State (Visits)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many visits to the United Kingdom, other than to Northern Ireland, have been carried out by the President of the Irish Republic since 1997; and how they were categorised.

Denis MacShane: Since 1997 the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, has carried out eight working visits to the UK, other than to Northern Ireland. She has also carried out a number of private visits, on which the FCO does not keep records.

Heads of State (Visits)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how visits by foreign heads of state are categorised; who decides this; and what criteria are applied.

Denis MacShane: Visits by foreign heads of state are categorised as State, Guest of Government, Working or Private.
	State visits are at the invitation of Her Majesty the Queen, on the advice of the Royal Visits committee. Guest of Government visits would usually be at the invitation of the Prime Minister, on advice from an inter-departmental visits committee. Working or private visits take place on the initiative of the visitors or at the invitation of third parties.

Ian Stillman

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contact his consular officials have had with Ian Stillman; and on what dates.

Ben Bradshaw: Mr. Stillman was visited by consular officials on 5 September 2000, 5 December 2000, 21 February 2001, 16 July 2001 and 5 September 2001. He was due to be visited on 19 December 2001, but was having dental treatment in Shimla. The next visit is due on 19 March.
	Consular staff in New Delhi and London have been in frequent contact with Mr. Stillman's family and lawyer. My noble Friend Baroness Amos met the family on 5 February 2002.

Visitor Visas

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people were issued with visit visas in (a) India, (b) Pakistan, (c) Bangladesh, (d) Ghana, (e) Nigeria, (f) Malaysia, (g) Jamaica, (h) Zimbabwe and (i) Kenya in 2001.

Ben Bradshaw: Non-settlement visas issued in the posts mentioned during 2001 (the majority of which were made by visitors) were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 India 177,756 
			 Pakistan 76,507 
			 Bangladesh 15,712 
			 Ghana 31,604 
			 Nigeria 77,861 
			 Malaysia 1,745 
			 Jamaica 3,139 
			 Zimbabwe (15)1,926 
			 Kenya 19,870 
		
	
	(15) To November 2001

European Union

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made concerning reforming the decision making process of the European Union.

Peter Hain: The Government are in favour of reform which makes the EU more efficient and effective in delivering the benefits citizens expect. The Convention on the Future of Europe, which starts on 28 February, will begin a debate on how best to achieve these goals. The Government have not sought to prejudge the work of the Convention by making detailed representations at this stage.

European Union

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals on the future distribution of competences between the European Union and its member states the Minister for Europe, in his role as the Government's representative on the Convention on the Future of Europe, will be making to the Convention on the Future of Europe; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I welcome the opportunity the Convention on the Future of Europe gives us to look at who does what. The complexity of the present situation is undesirable. We will work towards a solution which gives us flexibility and transparency.

European Single Sky

Richard Spring: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the Government will be making to the European Council at Barcelona on the creation of the single sky in Europe; what effect they will have on Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The Lisbon strategy calls for completion of the Single European Sky by 2004. Proposals designed to achieve this are currently under negotiation. The Spanish Presidency has not yet made clear whether this issue will be discussed at the Barcelona European Council. The UK is committed to Single Sky. It offers the best route to overcoming delays and congestion caused by the structural problems in Europe's Air Traffic Management (ATM) system. It will also improve safety, and provide the necessary framework for future air traffic growth.
	With regard to the effect of these proposals on Gibraltar, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 811W. There have been no further discussions with Spain on this matter.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on United Nations Security Council resolution 1291 (2000) in respect of the orderly withdrawal of all foreign forces from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in accordance with the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement; when it is anticipated all foreign troops will leave; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Since the adoption of resolution 1291 Namibia has withdrawn all its troops from the DRC. All other foreign parties to the conflict have withdrawn some of their forces. We welcome these withdrawals. But we will continue to press all parties to withdraw all their troops in line with the relevant Security Council resolutions.

Crown Dependencies

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library the model Order in Council that his Department has developed for the purpose of criminalising terrorism financing in the Crown Dependencies; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: I have been asked to reply.
	All the Crown Dependencies, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, already have their own strong anti-money laundering legislation. United Kingdom legislation against terrorism financing does not extend to the Crown Dependencies; they are all, however, preparing further domestic anti-terrorism legislation, which includes new provisions to counteract terrorism financing.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Departmental Secondments

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff in his Department have been seconded to jobs in the (a) private and (b) public sector in each of the last four years.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office on 7 February 2002, Official Report, columns 1129–30W.

Departmental Secondments (Energy Industry)

Tom Brake: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many staff were seconded between (a) BP, (b) Shell, (c) Enron, (d) Exxon-Mobil, (e) Conoco, (f) Texaco and (g) TotalFinaElf and his Department in (i) 1999–2000, (ii) 2000–01 and (iii) April 2001 to the latest date for which figures are available.

Michael Wills: There have been no inward or external secondments between the listed companies and this Department in any of the years specified.

Cabinet Papers

Annabelle Ewing: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will introduce proposals to amend restrictions on the timing of the release of Cabinet papers.

Rosie Winterton: The release of Cabinet papers which have been preserved as public records of historical interest is subject to the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958 as amended by the Public Records Act 1967. There are no current proposals to amend these provisions.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the total costs paid to (a) the liquidators of BCCI and (b) their legal advisers since 5 July 1991.

Melanie Johnson: The latest report and accounts prepared by the liquidators and submitted to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry show that the total of remuneration drawn by the liquidators in the period from 5 July 1991 to 15 January was US$267 million. The total paid in respect of legal fees in that period was US$145 million.

BCCI

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the payment of Insolvency Service fees by the liquidators of BCCI and the services provided by the Insolvency Service in return for that payment to the English creditors.

Melanie Johnson: The latest report and accounts prepared by the liquidators and provided to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, show that, in the period 5 July to 15 January 2001 a total of US$13.2 million was paid in fees to the Insolvency Service. Regulations and Fees Orders determined the rates at which these fees were charged on moneys paid into the Insolvency Services Account. Such fees are appropriated in aid of the Department's vote.

Export Licences

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry for each year since 1997, what is the (a) average and (b) upper decile time taken to determine (i) an export licence and (ii) a 680 application.

Nigel Griffiths: The processing of Form 680 applications for the advance approval for promotion prior to formal application for an export licence is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.
	The Export Control Organisation (ECO) sets out the Government's commitment to exporters in a Service and Performance Code (available on its website (www.dti.gov.uk/export.control). Where, as in almost all cases, it is necessary for a Standard Individual Export Licence (SIEL) application to be circulated to other Government Departments the aim is to provide a response to 70 per cent. of cases within 20 working days, except in special circumstances. Details of performance in processing SIEL applications against the target are published in the Government's annual report on strategic export controls, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	Prior to the introduction of the ECO's current computer database during 1999, information on the average time taken to process a SIEL application was not recorded. It would therefore entail disproportionate cost to establish the average and upper decile time taken to process a SIEL application between 1997 and 1999.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the right hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory) on 10 May 2001, Official Report, columns 305–06W, for details of the average time taken to process a SIEL application in 2000. The upper decile time taken to process a SIEL application in 2000 was 53 working days.
	The average time taken in working days to process a SIEL application whose processing was completed in 2001 is as follows:
	
		
			   Working days 
		
		
			 Mode 13 
			 Median 18 
			 Mean 31 
			 Upper decile 59 
		
	
	Any comparison of the average and upper decile time taken to process a SIEL application between 2000 and 2001 would not provide for an accurate reflection of the Government's performance, given the Export Control Organisation's success in finalising a number of long standing cases during 2001, which are not reflected in previous years' figures. The figures do not take account of periods during which applications were referred back to exporters for further information. These occur, for example, when the nature or end user of the goods requires further clarification.
	It would entail disproportionate cost to establish the average and upper decile time taken to process all Open Individual Export Licence applications since 1997.

Export Licences

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether it is the procedure of officials in her Department to advise companies who have applied for export licences that are likely to be refused, to withdraw the licence application prior to formal refusal.

Nigel Griffiths: There are no procedures in place to advise companies to withdraw licence applications prior to a refusal decision being made.

Export Licences

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many and what percentage per year of export licence applications for dual use goods were circulated to other Departments for consultation, broken down by the export categories and countries of destination for the export licence applications in the last 12 months.

Nigel Griffiths: Where items are deemed licensable and not covered by an Open General Licence, all export licence applications for dual use items are circulated to other Government Departments for consultation. The number of export licence applications covering dual use items, together with their description or rating, is published by destination in the Government's Annual Reports on Strategic Export Controls.
	The 2001 annual report will be published as soon as possible.

Pakistan Ordnance Factories

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the agreements between Royal Ordnance and Pakistan Ordnance Factories prior to 1987 that permitted POF to produce APFSDS ammunition under licensed production in Pakistan; and what the state of these licensed production agreements is;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the licensed production agreements negotiated between Royal Ordnance and Pakistan Ordnance Factories from 1975 to 1987.

Nigel Griffiths: It would be inappropriate to comment on any such agreement entered into during the time of a previous Administration. In any case this is a matter between Royal Ordnance and Pakistan Ordnance Factories.

Pakistan Ordnance Factories

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent requests she has received from Pakistan Ordnance Factories for permission to export munitions, manufactured under licensed production agreements agreed with Royal Ordnance prior to 1987, to third countries.

Nigel Griffiths: An export licence is not required from the Department of Trade and Industry's Export Control Organisation to export items from Pakistan to a third country.

Broadband

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the RDA broadband fund has been allocated; which RDAs have published their broadband strategy; and which RDAs have implemented their strategies.

Douglas Alexander: The UK broadband fund has been allocated to the English Regional Development Agencies and the devolved Administrations on the basis of their need for broadband coverage. We announced allocations on 9 October 2001. RDAs will publish their corporate plans which will set out their aims, objectives, operations and key performance targets. The decision on whether or not to publish their broadband strategies is a matter for each RDA.

Debt Management Companies

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will take steps to review the regulation of fees and commission charged by debt management companies.

Melanie Johnson: In December the Director General of Fair Trading issued guidelines to debt management companies to ensure they deal fairly and openly with consumers. The guidelines require consumers to be given adequate and clear information on cost and the service provided before they enter into a contract.

Company Directors (Remuneration)

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on levels of remuneration for company directors.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friend the Member for Gedling (Vernon Coaker) on 19 October 2001, Official Report, column 1376W.

Post Offices

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with Consignia about the impact on rural and urban communities of their intention to close post offices.

Douglas Alexander: None. We welcome the terms negotiated between Post Office Ltd. and the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters in relation to the urban network. The Government's formal requirement on the Post Office to maintain the rural network and prevent avoidable closures of rural post offices remains in place.

Post Offices

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices there are in Wales; how many sub-post offices have been closed since May 1997; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South-East Cornwall (Mr. Breed) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 965W.

Post Offices

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many sub-post offices have closed in Surrey in each of the past five years.

Douglas Alexander: I understand from Post Office Ltd. that data on the post office network are not held on a county basis.

Post Offices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government will present proposals regarding the urban post office network.

Douglas Alexander: Detailed discussion continues on the programme to restructure the urban post office network.

Post Offices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what options she is assessing for transitional financial assistance to the rural post office network; when she will announce a decision; and if she will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 21 January 2002, Official Report, column 560W.

Post Offices

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the level of take-up of the £2 million rural post office scheme; and what action she is taking to increase take-up.

Douglas Alexander: To date there have been over 500 requests for further information about the £2 million fund made available by Government to support volunteer and community initiatives to maintain or re-open post office facilities in rural areas. Also to date, 29 completed applications out of the 139 forms requested have been received by Post Office Ltd. and seven initiatives have been allocated funding. The scheme is promoted by rural transfer advisers from Post Office Ltd.

Television Sets

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs there were in the UK in each of the last five years in the manufacture of small and medium sized television sets.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 11 February 2002
	Figures for the number of jobs in the UK in the manufacture of TV's are not available, though the British Radio and Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association maintain data on the UK Consumer Electronics sector as a whole. Sales of high value, large screen and widescreen TV's are the main growth area of the industry, however, with 4.76 million sold in 2000 against 3.6 million in 1999, presenting manufacturers with the opportunity to move their UK production up the value chain.

Working Hours

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Government are taking to help people working longer than the 48 hour working week; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: The Government have introduced the Working Time Regulations, which provide that no worker (excluding those in the transport and offshore sectors, sea fishing and junior doctors ) may be required to work beyond 48 hours a week on average.
	The Government are also encouraging the greater provision of flexible working opportunities which can help ease the pressure on employees to work long hours. The Government's work-life balance campaign seeks to persuade companies to introduce ways of working which meet the needs of the business and its customers while simultaneously improving the work-life balance of their employees. The Government are also particularly looking to facilitate discussion between employers and parents to consider flexible working arrangements that suit them both. It is introducing a new right, to come into force in April 2003, for parents of children aged under six, or under-18 for parents of disabled children, to request flexible working and to have those requests seriously considered by their employers.

Employment Status Consultation Paper

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Government's consultation paper on employment status is due to be published; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: We are just beginning a review of employment status in relation to statutory employment rights. As part of this review, we are holding initial discussions with stakeholders, which will inform a discussion document, which we intend to publish in late spring.

Post Office Investment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the £750 million the Government have invested in the Post Office, referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Griffiths), on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 252.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 11 February 2002
	I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Laws) on 17 January 2002, Official Report, column 409W. In addition, £480 million has been invested by Government in the Horizon programme to automate the entire post office network.

Your Guide

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial contribution from the Scottish Executive is being sought prior to rolling-out the "Your Guide" system in Scotland.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 967W. Should the evaluation of the pilot "Your Guide" system, and the additional work on the costs and benefits of this, indicate that a national service should be rolled out, then we will work with all of the devolved Administrations to determine the form, content and funding of any future "Your Guide" service.

Consignia

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she intends to make a decision regarding the dividend taken from Consignia this year; and what her policy on Consignia dividends is.

Douglas Alexander: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I would expect to take a decision on dividends after the end of the current financial year. The policy on dividends is set out in the White Paper, "Post Office Reform: A World Class Service for the 21st Century".

British Trade International

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to change the departmental expenditure limit of British Trade International for 2001–02.

Patricia Hewitt: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, British Trade International's Resource DEL will be increased by £175,000 from £88,818,000 to £88,993,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 175 
			 New DEL 88,993 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 88,993 
			 Non-voted 0 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 0 
			 New DEL 248 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 248 
			 Non-voted 0 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from a transfer of £175,000 in resources from the Department of Trade and Industry to British Trade International in respect of two Rover Task Force projects in the west midlands.

Ofgem

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to change the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limits for her Department and the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets.

Patricia Hewitt: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the Department of Trade and Industry DEL will be increased by £69,043,000 from £4,766,430,000 to £4,835,473,000 and the Administration Costs limit will be reduced by £23,020,000 from £435,345,000 to £412,325,000. This includes the impact on the DTI DEL of the Machinery of Government transfers from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, which were still under consideration when the announcement was made regarding the Winter Supplementaries of both Departments.
	Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 50,539 
			 New DEL 4,022,145 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 895,145 
			 Non-voted 3,127,000 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 18,504 
			 New DEL 813,328 
			 of which:  
			 Voted -148,330 
			 Non-voted 961,658 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	(i) the transfer of £40,300,000 of non-Voted DEL to reflect Machinery of Government transfers from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in respect of Regional Development Agencies;
	(ii) to reflect the reclassification of the Private Finance Initiative Contract relating to the National Physical Laboratory as on-balance sheet, by transferring £11,220,000 to capital;
	(iii) to transfer £1,506,000 to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for the acquisition and reclamation of strategically sited land in furtherance of the Rover Task Force diversity, modernisation and regeneration objectives;
	(iv) to reclassify from capital £395,000 for the Rover Task Force Modernisation and Diversification Projects (subheads U3 and A2), of which £175,000 will be transferred to British Trade International in connection with Autosport International and Overseas Links;
	(v) to record £497,531,000 of voted current receipts from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and to increase non-voted resource expenditure by an equivalent amount to reflect revised agreement on the sums to be recorded as a Machinery of Government transfer related to Regional Development Agencies;
	(vi) to reclassify £650,000 from voted to non-voted DEL to reflect the funding of Regional Development Agencies via grant in aid following the above Machinery of Government changes;
	(vii) to reclassify £3,010,000 from voted to non-voted DEL in connection with the funding via Regional Development Agencies of innovative schemes to establish broadband networks;
	(viii) to reclassify £441,000 from voted to non-voted DEL in connection with the funding via Regional Development Agencies of regional manufacturing centres;
	(ix) to reclassify £3,218,000 from voted to non-voted DEL in connection with the funding via Regional Development Agencies of Regional Supply Offices;
	(x) to transfer £250,000 to the devolved Administration of Scotland in connection with the funding of innovative schemes to establish broadband networks;
	(xi) to transfer £250,000 from the devolved Administration of Scotland as indemnity for costs incurred by administrators of Atlantic Telecom Group plc for costs of continuing provision of telephone services;
	(xii) to increase by £900,000 the non-Voted resource DEL of Postwatch to be offset by an equivalent increase in voted licence fee receipts;
	(xiii) to transfer an additional £257,000 in administration costs and £311,000 in resource (of which £50,000 to be vired to administration to reflect funding via ACAS) from the Department for Education and Skills for publicity and evaluation in relation to the Work Life Balance project to reflect Machinery of Government transfers;
	(xiv) to utilise £105,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement transferred from the Department for Education and Skills for publicity and evaluation in relation to the Work Life Balance project to reflect Machinery of Government transfers
	(xv) to transfer £100,000 from the Home Office in relation to the Work Life Balance project to reflect Machinery of Government transfers;
	(xvi) to transfer £11,000 in administration costs from the Home Office for the administration of the Easter and British summer time; Sunday trading, street markets and Chartered Fairs Projects to reflect Machinery of Government Transfers;
	(xvii) to transfer from capital £5,440,000 in connection with British Trade International to fund IT development under the ELGAR PFI contract;
	(xviii) to reclassify from capital £471,000 to fund Claims Handling in the Redundancy Payments Service system upgrade;
	(xix) to transfer £50,000 from the Lord Chancellor's Department in support of the Debt Advice Project;
	(xx) to utilise £3,000,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to increase the External Financing Limit of British Coal Corporation to provide for compensation payments to dismissed miners.
	RfR2
	(i) to take up £5,000,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to fund Higher Education Innovation Fund projects;
	(ii) to take up £4,000,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to fund Exploitation of Discoveries at Public Sector Research Establishments;
	(iii) to take up £2,884,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to increase non-voted expenditure of the Medical Research Council;
	(iv) to take up £2,350,000 of the non-voted Science Departmental Unallocated Provision to increase non- voted expenditure of the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council;
	(v) to take up £2,862,000 of the Science non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision to increase non- voted expenditure of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils;
	(vi) to transfer £334,000 of capital from the Synchrotron Radiation Source project to fund additional non-voted expenditure of £334,000 to the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils;
	(vii) to take up £782,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to fund Science Enterprise Challenge projects;
	(viii) to take up £146,000 of the Science non-voted Departmental Unallocated Provision for funding of Foresight LINK Awards.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from:
	RfR1
	(i) to reclassify £2,175,000 and make a transfer of this amount to the Department for Education and Skills for MG Rover training;
	(ii) to reflect the reclassification of the Private Finance Initiative Contract relating to the National Physical Laboratory as on-balance sheet, by transferring £11,220,000 from resource;
	(iii) to reclassify to resource £395,000 for the Rover Task Force Modernisation and Diversification Projects;
	(iv) to record £636,558,000 of capital receipts from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and to increase non-voted resource expenditure by an equivalent amount to reflect revised agreement on the sums to be recorded as a Machinery of Government transfer related to Regional Development Agencies;
	(v) to transfer £57,000 from the Department for Education and Skills for publicity and evaluation in relation to the Work Life Balance project to reflect Machinery of Government transfers;
	(vi) to transfer to administration £5,440,000 in connection with British Trade International to fund IT development under the ELGAR PFI contract;
	(vii) to reclassify to administration £471,000 to fund Claims Handling in the Redundancy Payments Service system upgrade;
	(viii) to utilise £435,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement for the Capital Modernisation Fund for the Innovative Clusters Fund for the regions, and reclassify to reflect funding via Regional Development Agencies.
	RfR2
	(i) increases in non-Voted expenditure of £3,000,000 by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, funded by a £3,000,000 reduction in voted provision for the Synchrotron Radiation Source project;
	(ii) to take up £6,063,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement from underspends on Joint Infrastructure Fund projects to fund projects under the Science Research Investment Fund;
	(iii) to take up £8,044,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to increase non-voted expenditure by the Medical Research Council;
	(iv) to take up £1,500,000 from the unused balance of the Department's end-year flexibility entitlement to increase non-voted expenditure by the Natural Environment Research Council;
	(v) to transfer £334,000 from the Synchrotron Radiation Source project to fund additional resource expenditure of the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils;
	Also, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the departmental expenditure limit for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets will be increased by £1,000 from £1,316,000 to £1,317,000. The Administration Costs Limit will increase by £1,220,000 from £36,130,000 to £37,350,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital is as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 1 
			 New DEL 352 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 352 
			 Non-voted 0 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 0 
			 New DEL 965 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 965 
			 Non-voted — 
		
	
	All of the above increases will either be offset by inter- departmental transfers, take-up of End-Year Flexibility or use of Departmental Unallocated Provisions and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Onshore Licences

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for South Derbyshire (Mr. Todd) on 20 July 2001, Official Report, column 609W, on petroleum licensing, what decisions she has made on onshore licence awards.

Brian Wilson: I have decided to offer 22 Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences. In addition, I will offer another two licences provided that I am satisfied by further information yet to be supplied by the applicants.
	These licences cover areas the length and breadth of the country, and include acreage never previously considered for oil and gas exploration. It is encouraging to see licences going to new applicants from both the UK and overseas—there are British, Italian, Canadian and Australian companies here, as operators or as partners. The high level of interest in this Round shows that the UK's onshore oil and gas industry has a strong future.
	It is particularly good to be able to offer 14 licences to companies concentrating on gas from coal mines, offering the potential for new activity in former mining communities and helping to bring new activity and jobs to former mining areas, while contributing to the UK's energy supply, and helping to meet the Government's Kyoto targets by preventing unnecessary emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The other 10 licences show that conventional oil and gas is not being overlooked and continues to attract a high level of interest itself.
	The operators on each licence, with the blocks to be covered and a brief resume of the drilling portion of the Work Programme are as follows:
	
		
			 Operator Blocks Work programme (drilling only) 
		
		
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. NX92, NX93, NY02, NY03 One firm well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. NT26, NT36 One firm well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. NS65, NS75 One firm well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. SK21, SK22 One firm well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. SJ94 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. SJ18 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. SE22 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Alkane Energy UK Ltd. S078, S079 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Sterling Resources (UK) Ltd. SU42 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Sonorex Oil and Gas Ltd. ST47, ST48 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Northern Petroleum (GB) Ltd. TQ75, TQ85, TQ95, TR05 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Black Rock Resources (UK) Ltd. SZ49, SZ59 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Stratagas plc SE74 Three drill-or-drop CBM wells 
			 Stratagas plc SJ82, SJ91, SJ92, SK11, SK02, SK12, SK21 Three drill-or-drop CBM wells and a drill-or-drop Gob Gas well 
			 Stratagas plc SJ48 Three drill-or-drop CBM wells 
			 Stratagas plc SN40 Three drill-or-drop CBM wells 
			 Stag Energy Ltd. SK65, SK66 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Warwick Energy Exploration and Production Ltd. SU40, SU30 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Warwick Energy Exploration and Production Ltd. SE68, SE78, SE88, SE98 Two drill-or-drop wells 
			 Archean Energy (UK) Ltd. TQ22, TQ32 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Archean Energy (UK) Ltd. SJ28, SJ29, SJ38, SJ39 One drill-or-drop well 
			 Coalbed Methane Ltd. NS76, NS77 One drill-or-drop well

Fire Sprinklers

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulations exist to limit the use of fire sprinklers in listed buildings.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	Listed building consent is required to alter a listed building in any way that would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. Listed building controls extend to all works, both external and internal, that would affect a building's special interest.
	It is for local planning authorities in the first instance to decide whether consent is required in any particular case, including for works involving the installation of fire sprinklers. In appropriate cases, conditions may be attached to the grant of listed building consent requiring the preservation of particular features.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Family Visitor Appeals

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the (a) costs of and (b) income from fees charged for family visitor appeals.

Rosie Winterton: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is as follows:
	(a) The cost to the Immigration Appellate authorities of family visitor appeals in the first six months of this financial year was £883,000.
	(b) The net income from fees charged for family visitor appeals in the first six months of this financial year was £73,500.

Police Response Times

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision exists to inspect the standards on telephone response times in the Metropolitan police.

John Denham: The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that the service level for answering 999 emergency calls is measured at 15 minute intervals throughout the day. This is used to identify patterns and establish the Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) call handling requirements.
	Supervising officers dip-sample telephone calls so that quality is assured and to ensure adherence to the MPS' policies, practices and procedures. This also ensures that calls are answered within a reasonable time.

Private Finance Initiative

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the total external spend by his Department was on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years; how many full-time equivalent consultants were employed over this period; how many billed consultancy days there were per year; what the implied average cost of each PFI consultant was; how many consultancy firms were used by his Department over this period; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: The information requested is not available in the format requested. To provide the hon. Member with a full answer will incur disproportionate cost. I can however provide information detailing total spend on Private Finance Initiative consultants in each of the last four years and also the number of consultancy firms used by my Department over this period. The aforementioned information is as follows:
	
		Total spend on private finance initiative (PFI) consultants
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 1998 103,563 
			 1999 89,473 
			 2000 2,926,936 
			 2001 7,372,187 
		
	
	
		Number of consultancy firms used by the Home Department on PFI projects
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 1998 1 
			 1999 2 
			 2000 4 
			 2001 5 
		
	
	The increase in expenditure is largely due to two projects, firstly the setting up of the Criminal Records Bureau and secondly various business change services relating to the Immigration and Nationality Department's Casework Programme to enable the improvement of case management.

Immigration Statistics

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion and number of immigration applications for (a) work permit holders, (b) people with UK ancestry, (c) EEA nationals and their families, (d) spouses, (e) fiancés and fianceés and (f) asylum seekers were decided upon in under (i) one month, (ii) two months, (iii) four months, (iv) six months, (v) 12 months and (vi) 18 months in each of the last five years; and what figures he predicts for the next two years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not readily available.
	There are currently no published data for the individual categories of immigration applications. However, our aim is to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks. Owing to the exceptionally high number of applications received in 2001, especially in recent months, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance, it is at present taking up to eight weeks to decide an application. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible. Information on expected processing times for straightforward cases is provided to applicants on the Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) website at http://194.203.40.90/default.asp?PageId=113.
	The requested information on asylum applications is also not readily available; however the tables show the average time taken from an asylum application to an initial decision, for initial decisions made in each year.
	Corresponding calendar year information for 2000 and for 2001 is not available.
	
		Average time (in months) to initial decision(16),(17),(19)
		
			 Year of decision Months 
		
		
			 1997(18) 22 
			 1998(18) 17 
			 1999(18),(20) 35 
			 October 2000 to September 2001(21),(22) 14 
		
	
	(16) Excluding dependants
	(17) Figures are estimates based on cases for which information is recorded
	(18) Based on data from Refugee Index
	(19) The average length of time (in months) is calculated from date application is lodged to the date of initial decision, and relates to the year in which the decisions were made
	(20) As at the end of December 1999, excluding cases waiting an initial decision
	(21) Based on data from A-CID (Asylum Cases Information Database)
	(22) Provisional figures
	I regret that information on predicted processing times for the next two years is not available.

Metropolitan Police

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) police, (b) beat and (c) traffic officers there were in the Metropolitan police in each of the past 10 years; and what the (i) total, (ii) beat policing and (iii) traffic policing budget was in each of those years.

John Denham: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary collect information on the number of officers in different functions. Information on the Metropolitan police force is set out in the table. Information before 1996–97 is not available.
	
		
			  Total police officers Patrol, or foot/car/beat patrol(23) Traffic(23) 
		
		
			 1996–97 26,447 12,307 922 
			 1997–98 26,094 12,159 823 
			 1998–99 25,956 11,716 782 
			 1999–2000 25,462 12,312 824 
			 2000–01 24,935 10,984 686 
		
	
	(23) Definitions of patrol and traffic officers changed in 1999–2000
	Note:
	The Metropolitan police was affected by boundary changes on 1 April 2000. The effect of this was incorporated into the funding formula and the overall transfer between the forces involved was in terms of financial resources, not of officers. Because it is for police authorities and Chief Constables to decide how resources are utilised, it is not possible to say what proportion of the reduction in Metropolitan police strength between 1999–2000 and 2000–01 relates to boundary changes.
	I am informed by the Commissioner that budgets have not been allocated on a functional basis that would allow identification against beat and traffic policing. The Commissioner has provided the information about net revenue budgets set out in the table.
	
		£000 
		
			  Net revenue budget 
		
		
			 1991–92 1,415,167 
			 1992–93 1,523,043 
			 1993–94 1,597,684 
			 1994–95 1,616,511 
			 1995–96 1,632,663 
			 1996–97 1,667,330 
			 1997–98 1,707,553 
			 1998–99 1,778,238 
			 1999–2000 1,846,564 
			 2000–01 1,842,433 
			 2001–02 2,040,100

Arthur Andersen

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many of his Department's PFI contracts Arthur Andersen has been an adviser; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: From the information available, there are no instances in this Department where Arthur Andersen has been used as an adviser on a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in connection with Crown court sentencing were referred to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division in each of the last two years; and how many of them resulted in a quashing or variation of sentence.

Keith Bradley: The required information is as follows:
	
		
			   1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 1 April to 31 December 2001* 
		
		
			 Crown court sentence referrals 3 2 
			 Quashed or varied 2 1 
			 Waiting to be heard 1 1

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures the Criminal Cases Review Commission uses to prioritise its Crown court conviction case load.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission has a priority-ranking group that reviews all applications for priority.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quotas there are for the numbers of cases which may be referred to the Court of Appeal Criminal Division by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in any year.

Keith Bradley: There are no quotas on the number of cases which may be referred to the Court of Appeal in any year by the Commission.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority is given by the Criminal Cases Review Commission to the crown court conviction cases of dead people.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission has a priority-ranking group that reviews all applications for priority. Cases involving applicants in custody are generally assigned higher priority than those in which applicants are at liberty or deceased, and are reviewed in date order of receipt.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each of the last two years concerned sentences passed in the magistrates' courts.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data are available. Of 31 applications concerning summary convictions in the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001, one was a sentence only application.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Criminal Cases Review Commission criteria are for fast-tracking Crown court conviction cases.

Keith Bradley: Cases involving applicants in custody are generally assigned higher priority than those in which applicants are at liberty or deceased, and are reviewed in date order of receipt. Priority may be given to cases in which the health of applicants or witnesses is a significant factor; or there is serious risk of deterioration of evidence, or to cases of special importance to the criminal justice system. Also once they have been identified, cases which offer little or no new evidence or argument and can be reviewed with modest caseworker effort are undertaken without further delay.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role the Commissioners of the Criminal Cases Review Commission play in crown court conviction case reviews.

Keith Bradley: Commission members carry out some case reviews and are responsible for all final case decisions.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the crown court conviction cases of applicants dead at the time of application were fast-tracked by the Criminal Cases Review Commission in (a) 2002 and (b) 2001; and what proportion these represented all fast-tracked cases in each of those years.

Keith Bradley: None out of 25 cases in the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001, and one out of 17 cases in the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 (approximately 6 per cent).

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Cases Review Commission concerned crown court sentences in each of the last two years; and what proportion this is of all applications of all kinds.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data are available.
	In the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001, 616 applications were received. 51 of these (just over 8 per cent. of the total) were sentence only applications.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the Criminal Cases Review Commission time was spent in the last two years on (a) the cases of people dead at the time of application, (b) the cases of people dead at the time of referral, (c) magistrates court conviction cases, (d) magistrates court sentencing cases and (e) Crown court sentencing cases.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not measure these time elements and this question could only be answered at disproportionate cost. However as few cases involve the deceased, the proportion of time spent on them is small.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many magistrates court conviction cases were referred to the Crown court in each of the last two years; and how many resulted in a quashed conviction.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission referred one case to the Crown court in the period 1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001. This conviction was quashed. In the period 1 April to December 2001, three cases were referred and are awaiting judgment.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role public opinion plays in the Criminal Cases Review Commission criteria for prioritising Crown court conviction cases.

Keith Bradley: The Commission's policies on case priority setting have been developed with advice and comment from potential applicants, applicants and their representatives, courts of appeal, the Court of Appeal, the criminal justice system and its agencies and the Secretaries of State for the Home Department and for Northern Ireland.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission processes all magistrates court sentencing cases.

Keith Bradley: Yes, the Criminal Cases Review Commission does process all magistrates court sentencing cases.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of the Criminal Cases Review Commission Crown court conviction cases are fast-tracked.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data are available. The Criminal Cases Review Commission received 66 requests for priority during the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001. 17 requests (26 per cent) were granted. Cases identified as requiring only modest caseworker effort were also processed faster.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to increase the numbers of case review managers at the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Keith Bradley: The Home Secretary has provided funding to meet the Criminal Cases Review Commission's proposals in relation to its increasing numbers of case review managers. The commission considers that it has had adequate funding for the 2001–02 financial year, and is now preparing its annual business plan for 2002–03.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants about crown court convictions to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (a) in 2002 and (b) 2001 were dead at the time of the application; and what proportion of the total applications they represented.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data are available.
	In the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001, one application out of 616 was on behalf of a deceased person.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of Crown court convictions have been referred to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in each of the last two years; in each year how many were dealt with fully; how many were in process of review at the end of that year; and how many there were upon which work had not commenced.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However following the introduction of an electronic case database from 1 April 2001 recent data are available.
	The tabulation statistics include convictions in magistrates' courts and these constituted about 6 per cent. for the period 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001.
	
		
			   1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 1 April 2001 to 31 December 2001 
		
		
			 Cases received 799 616 
			 Completed 1,110 881 
			 Under review 492 375 
			 Awaiting review 576 422

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applicants in Crown court conviction cases whose cases have been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission were dead at the time of referral; and what percentage of total conviction referrals were represented by referrals of the cases of the dead in the last 12 months.

Keith Bradley: There have been eight cases concerning those deceased at the time of referral, and 3 per cent. (one out of 30 referrals) during the last 12 months.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission has formal discussions with the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) on (a) policy and (b) jurisprudence; and which personnel from each organization take part in them.

Keith Bradley: No formal discussions on either subject have taken place.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average time (a) in 2002 and (b) 2001 from application to the issue of a referral or a minded-to-refuse letter for fast-tracked Crown court conviction cases.

Keith Bradley: The Criminal Cases Review Commission does not collect routinely the statistics requested, and they could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Criminal Cases Review Commission processes all applications which concern Crown court sentences.

Keith Bradley: Yes, the Criminal Cases Review Commission processes all applications concerning Crown court sentences.

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Vera Baird: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the time taken for the Criminal Cases Review Commission to process a Crown court conviction case to a conclusion is sufficiently short, in every case, to remedy miscarriages of justice expeditiously.

Keith Bradley: Following consultation, the commission has introduced criteria for prioritising applications and screening that allows less complex cases to be completed without delay. A backlog of accumulated cases has precluded the commission from processing other applications as speedily as would be ideal. Increased resources have been made available to the commission and the backlog has decreased considerably over the last two years and continues to do so. The number of cases under review and awaiting review peaked in 1999, since when it has been halved. The commission is committed to processing all applications with due regard to efficiency and quality.

Sex Offenders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will launch a campaign to inform British nationals that they will be prosecuted for child sex crimes committed overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Keith Bradley: We are keen to do all we can to protect the public, especially children, both in the United Kingdom and abroad, from sex offenders. This is why jurisdiction was extended by virtue of Part Two of the Sex Offenders Act 1997 to allow prosecution in the United Kingdom's courts for sex offences committed by British nationals and residents abroad against children. This allows us to prosecute such cases in this country when we need to.
	However, we consider it preferable wherever possible for our citizens to face trial in the country where the alleged offence was committed. That is because it is extremely difficult for the prosecuting authorities in the United Kingdom to gather sufficient evidence about an offence which took place in another country for a successful prosecution. In these circumstances, an information campaign of the kind suggested would not be appropriate. However, we will take every opportunity to warn people that they could be prosecuted in the United Kingdom for sex offences committed abroad.

Young Offenders

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support his Department (a) is giving and (b) will give in future years to the schemes for young offenders run by the Army Cadet Force leadership as outreach.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The Youth Justice Board committed £60,000 to Outreach for 2000–01 and the Home Office £60,000 for 2001–02. This funding supports the project's personal development training for 12 to 14-year-olds who are considered to be at risk of involvement in crime or not properly engaged in formal education. It includes adventure pursuit activities and team building exercises in conjunction with the Army Cadet Force.
	Further Home Office funding is being considered, subject to the outcome of a current independent evaluation of the project's progress.

Ministerial Briefing Unit

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the functions, establishment and annual budget of the proposed Ministerial Briefing Unit; and if he will make a statement.

David Blunkett: holding answer 4 February 2002
	Work on the Ministerial Briefing Unit in the Home Office was commissioned in 2001 and the unit came into existence on Monday 28 January 2002. Its functions are to improve the quality of Home Office information made publicly available by providing research facilities and background briefing for the Home Secretary, his ministerial team and senior officials undertaking activity outside the Department on current and emerging topics of concern.
	The extra annual staff costs, including overheads, of the unit are currently £60,000. In addition, a Higher Executive Officer or Executive Officer (HEO/EO) is being recruited.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the proposed asylum accommodation centres will be constructed using the Private Finance Initiative; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Proposed asylum accommodation centres will not be developed using the Private Finance Initiative (PFI). The Home Office has considered a number of procurement strategies for the delivery of these projects and determined that the PFI route was not appropriate in view of the urgent nature of the programme.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what consultations he will undertake with (a) local authorities, (b) providers of local services and (c) members of the local community before reaching a decision on the use of Throckmorton airfield as the site of a proposed asylum accommodation centre;
	(2)  if he intends to apply the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to the development of the proposed asylum accommodation centres; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will submit to Wychavon district council a full environmental impact statement in accordance with the town and country planning regulations before proceeding with a decision on the use of Throckmorton airfield as the site of a proposed asylum accommodation centre.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 5 February 2002
	Home Office officials met recently with planning officials from Wychavon district council regarding the potential development of the airfield at Throckmorton. They will, in the near future and in agreement with the planning authority, embark on a consultation exercise with all relevant parties including local authorities, providers of local services and members of the local community.
	The potential accommodation centre site at the Throckmorton airfield is a Crown development and as such my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary does not have to comply with the town and country planning regulations. However, an environmental impact study will be included as part of the planning notification package, to be submitted in accordance with Circular 18/84, to Wychavon district council.
	The Home Office does intend to apply the special urgency provisions in paragraph 22 of Circular 18/84 (Development by Government Departments) to the development of proposed asylum accommodation centres. These provisions are being applied on the basis of the urgent national need relating to the development of accommodation centres. Officials at the Home Department are currently meeting with the relevant local planning authorities on this matter.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what type of identification system will be used for residents at asylum seeker accommodation centres.

Angela Eagle: We intend that when the trial accommodation centres are opened, the new application registration card which was launched on 31 January 2002 will be issued to all new asylum seekers, including accommodation centre residents.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much spending money adult residents at asylum seeker accommodation centres will receive.

Angela Eagle: Residents will receive a small cash allowance to cover incidental expenses, the amount of which has yet to be decided.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which part of the airfield at Throckmorton he is considering building an asylum accommodation centre.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The Home Office is currently assessing the suitability of various areas within the boundary of the Throckmorton airfield for the potential siting of an accommodation centre. Officials are in consultation with a number of parties, including the owner of the airfield and Wychavon district council, on issues which may impact on any decision on the precise siting of the potential development.

Asylum Accommodation Centres

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the timetable is for deciding the locations of the proposed asylum accommodation centres.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the previous answer given on 11 February 2002, Official Report, column 57W.

Security Industry Authority

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Security Industry Authority will be set up.

David Blunkett: The Government wish to establish the Security Industry Authority as soon as possible. To that end, we shall shortly be announcing the appointment of its Chair and Chief Executive.

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of cases of applications for permanent residence visas by spouses of UK citizens taking more than eight weeks to process at the latest date for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: Information on the processing times for individual types of application is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only by scrutiny of individual case files, at disproportionate cost. We are currently introducing a new management information system which will provide much better information in due course on all of the applications in the system.

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of postal applications for permanent residence visas for spouses of UK citizens are processed in three weeks.

Angela Eagle: We do not routinely publish average processing times for individual types of application. We aim to decide all straightforward applications within three weeks, but at present it is taking up to seven weeks due to the exceptionally high number of applications received, particularly in the latter half of 2001, and process changes which are being introduced to improve our longer term performance. We are working to reduce this to three weeks as soon as possible.

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what data underlies the statement on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website that applications for permanent residence from spouses of UK citizens are taking up to six weeks on average and up to eight weeks in some cases.

Angela Eagle: Applications are normally processed in date order irrespective of category. The information on the Immigration and Nationality Directorate website, which currently states that initial consideration is taking between five to seven weeks, reflects the current average length of time between the receipt of all postal applications in Croydon and their initial consideration by caseworkers. This information is regularly updated. We are working hard to continue to reduce this period back down to our target of three weeks as soon as possible.

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the time taken by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to process applications for permanent residence from people who are spouses of UK residents.

Angela Eagle: We have received various representations from hon. Members and from applicants and their representatives about the current turnaround time for considering general after entry casework. No statistics are kept centrally on the number of such representations.

Spouses (Permanent Residence Applications)

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason applicants for permanent residence visas on the basis of being a spouse of UK citizens are advised not to send their applications more than five weeks before the previous visa expires.

Angela Eagle: One of the requirements of the relevant Immigration Rules is the completion of a period of 12 months following admission to the United Kingdom, or having been given an extension of stay for 12 months as the spouse of a person present and settled here. People who apply too early cannot meet this requirement, hence the advice in the relevant application form.

Legal Costs

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in each of the last four years.

Angela Eagle: Expenditure by the Home Office on external legal costs can be split into two main areas:
	(i) Litigation: This includes judicial review proceedings (eg challenges to decisions by the Immigration and Nationality Division or the Prison Service), personal injury claims, employment tribunal cases, commercial litigation and other miscellaneous disputes;
	(ii) Commercial legal advice: This includes advice on procurement (eg contracts to build new prisons or the installation of new computer systems).
	Home Office litigation is handled by the Treasury Solicitor's Department who also provide and/or manage external legal services on some Home Office procurement projects. Over the last four years the Home Office expenditure with the Treasury Solicitor's Department is as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ 
		
		
			 1998–99 14,487,753 
			 1999–2000 11,710,362 
			 2000–01 16,781,326 
			 2001–02(24) 13,809,191 
		
	
	(24) To date
	These figures include VAT and disbursements eg Counsels' fees and fees of external solicitors. The figures are gross. They do not take account of recovered costs. Neither do they include costs paid to third parties by way of damages or compensation.
	In addition the individual Units in the Home Office instruct Counsel or external solicitors direct without going through the Treasury Solicitor's Department. No central record is kept of such expenditure and to obtain such details would incur a disproportionate cost. The figures above also do not include the cost of the Home Office Legal Adviser's Branch.

Work Permits

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 532W, on the fast track work permit scheme, if he will list (a) the members of the panel of representatives from the technology communications and electronics sector to which he refers and (b) the organisations to which they belong.

Angela Eagle: The Information Technology, Communications and Electronics (ITCE) sector panel is composed of other Government Departments and relevant industry bodies and not individuals. The organisations that are represented on the ITCE sector panel are:
	Association of Technology Staffing Companies
	British Computer Society
	Computer Software Services Association
	Department of Trade and Industry
	Department for Education and Skills
	e-Skill National Training Organisation
	Federation of the Electronics Industry
	Institution of Electrical Engineers
	National Training Organisation for Engineering and Manufacturing
	Professional Contractor Group
	Recruitment and Employment Confederation.

Work Permits

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 25 January, Official Report, column 532W, on the fast track work permit scheme, if he will make a statement on the evidence adduced to justify the inclusion of Oracle database administration in the list of shortage occupations for the purposes of the fast track work permit scheme.

Angela Eagle: At the Information Technology, Communications and Electronics (ITCE) sector panel meeting held on 10 October 2001 evidence from panel members restricted the Database Specialist to Oracle Database Administrator. That in itself is under review following the ITCE meeting in January 2002 as further evidence is provided by panel members. Further information has been requested from panel members, before considering the removal of this specific shortage occupation.

Work Permits

Paul Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown, by category, of the work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology since 21 January 2000.

Angela Eagle: The number of work permits approved under the shortage occupation category for information technology since 21 January 2000 is:
	
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 Analyst programmer 2,505 
			 Business analyst 331 
			 Computer engineer 410 
			 Computer programmer 1,293 
			 Database specialist 162 
			 Information Technology (IT) manager 172 
			 Network specialist 304 
			 Project manager 300 
			 Software engineer 4,681 
			 System analyst 2,375 
			 Other IT related occupations(25) 7,759 
		
	
	(25) This category includes occupations that are on the published shortage occupation list but are not captured separately for management information purposes by the Work Permits United Kingdom computer system.

Life Sentences

Paul Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women serving life sentences in England and Wales have tariff sentences of (i) less than two years, (ii) between two and five years, (iii) between five and 10 years, and (iv) above 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: The available information, which relates to tariff periods set by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for both men and women mandatory lifers is as follows: (i) less than two years—nil, (ii) between two and five years—five, (iii) between five and 10 years—463, and (iv) over 10 years—2,526. Information about tariffs for prisoners serving a life sentence for serious offences other than murder and those detained during Her Majesty's pleasure is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Immigration Detainees (Purposeful Activities)

Nick Hawkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reintroduce purposeful activity for the inmates of removal centres.

Angela Eagle: Persons detained at immigration removal centres are, in line with the requirements of the Detention Centre Rules 2001, provided with opportunities to take part in a wide range of purposeful activity including education, sports, physical education, arts and crafts, drama and library.

"Sport and Charity"

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many responses to the Charity Commission consultation paper, "Sport and Charity", were received from (a) voluntary sports clubs, (b) sports governing bodies and (c) the legal and accountancy professions.

Angela Eagle: This is a matter for the Charity Commission as the Government Department that registers charities in England and Wales. The Chief Charity Commissioner will write to the hon. Member and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.

Immigration Office (Belfast)

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the facilities available at the immigration office in Belfast, with specific reference to passport and visa services.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 11 February 2002
	There are no plans to extend the facilities available to members of the public at the Immigration Office in Belfast. Passport services for British Citizens are provided by the United Kingdom Passport Agency and for other nationalities by their relevant high commissions and embassies. Visas for entry to the United Kingdom are issued by posts overseas.

Children's Rights

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to encourage Government departments to consider the impact of new policies and legislation on children and young people.

John Denham: In November, the Government published for consultation a framework for an overarching strategy for children and young people. "Building a Strategy for Children and Young People" sets out 10 principles for all children and young people's policies and services to ensure that they are centred on their best interests. Each principle has been developed to take into account the UN convention on the rights of the child and will provide a framework for the way Government Departments develop new policies and legislation.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for changes to the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit within his responsibility.

Angela Eagle: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Home Office Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £841,193,000 from £9,862,267,000 to £10,703,460,000 and the administration costs limits will be increased by £117,831,000 from £2,405,643,000 to £2,523,474,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		£000 
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change 892,496 -51,303 
			 New DEL 9,670,789 1,032,671 
			 Of which:   
			 Voted 9,374,386 923,315 
			 Non-voted 296,403 109,356 
		
	
	The increases will be offset by charges to the DEL reserve and by interdepartmental transfers. They will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.
	A detailed breakdown of the Spring Supplementary changes has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the Charity Commission's departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Angela Eagle: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Charity Commission Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) will be increased by £700,000 from £22,792,000 to £23,492,000 and the administration costs limits will be increased by £700,000 from £21,483,000 to £22,183,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		£ 
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change 700,000 0 
			 New DEL 22,163,000 1,329,000 
			 Of which:   
			 Voted 22,163,000 1,329,000 
			 Non-voted 0 0 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from a £700,000 increase in administration costs, in line with agreement given by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury.
	The £700,000 increase in administration costs will be met from the take up of DEL End Year Flexibility carry forward from 2000–01.
	The increases will be charged to the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Young Voters

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made since 29 October in encouraging young people to vote; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: Further to my answer on 8 January 2002, Official Report, column 710W, the Children and Young People's Unit are currently extending consultation with young people to test out and develop the initial views expressed at the event on 29 October. This involves regional consultation workshops which will take place during February, a survey of around 1,100 young people, and further opportunities to respond to the survey via the unit's website. A key theme that has emerged from early consultations is the role of the media, and some specific work with young people is planned to examine this in more depth. In addition the unit has established a network of external organisations to help promote the debate about youth disengagement from democracy. The unit continues to work closely with the Electoral Commission and the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and it remains my intention to produce conclusions and recommendations for further action later this year.

HEALTH

Private Health Sector

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of spare capacity in the private health sector; and if he will provide a breakdown by region.

John Hutton: The major United Kingdom providers of private health care have indicated that they have spare capacity available for treating national health service patients which could increase the amount of NHS-funded work within the private sector to approximately 100,000 cases per annum.
	The capacity available in the private sector varies over time and by specialty. It is for NHS commissioning organisations to investigate capacity available in the independent sector as part of planning elective capacity.
	To help the NHS to find out about available capacity in the independent sector, the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency has established a secure website where independent health care providers are able to post offers of treatment for NHS patients, by hospital and clinical specialty.

Private Health Sector

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures he has collated on the number of (a) doctors and (b) nurses employed by the private health sector.

John Hutton: The Department does not collect data about the number of doctors working in the private sector.
	Between 1 April 1999 and 31 March 2000 a total of 70,897 permanent and temporary qualified nursing staff were employed in private nursing homes and residential care homes. The Department does not collect information covering the number of nurses working in private hospitals and the voluntary sector.

Haemophilia Drugs

Jackie Lawrence: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when sufficient supplies of rcFVIII will be available to match demand from United Kingdom-resident patients requiring this treatment.

Yvette Cooper: In England and Northern Ireland, the policy is to provide recombinant clotting factors for new haemophilia patients and children under 16. Scotland and Wales are committed to providing recombinant products for all haemophilia patients. We are actively considering extending the provision of recombinant clotting factors to all haemophilia patients in England when supplies allow.
	Because of the current world shortage of recombinant clotting factors, some patients across the United Kingdom have been switched from recombinant to plasma derived clotting factors as a temporary measure but this situation is improving. The Department is working with the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation and with industry to manage available supplies.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mental health services are made available to armed services' personnel; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 13 December 2001
	Mental health services are available to armed services' personnel via the services that form part of the Defence Medical Services and/or through services provided to the general population in the national health service. We have embarked upon a radical programme of modernisation to improve access to effective treatment and care in the NHS, reduce unfair variation, raise standards and provide quicker and more convenient services across the spectrum of care. There is also current guidance relevant to war pensioners (Health Service Guidance(97)31) to ensure referrals within the NHS make specific reference to the need for treatment for the condition for which the pension was awarded.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of his policy that nobody with severe mental illness who asks for treatment should be refused; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Mental Health, published in September 1999, sets out national standards for mental health. The NSF contains seven overarching standards, two of which are specifically about the provision of effective services for people with severe mental illness. The standards aim to ensure that each person with severe mental illness receives the range of mental health services they need. Implementation of the NSF standards is an on-going process that should be largely completed by 2004.
	Performance monitoring arrangements are in place to ensure that the appropriate services are in place within that time scale.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the level of recruitment and retention of staff of mental health services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Recruitment and retention of staff is a key issue for mental health services. Work is taking place on a number of issues to improve recruitment and retention, and includes:
	considering the recommendations made by the Workforce Action Team on recruitment and retention;
	working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists to look at recruitment and retention issues, such as the retention of senior house officers, working patterns and workload and retirement plan;
	analysing the reports from the local implementation teams about recruitment and retention.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 15 January 2002, Official Report, column 248W, on mental health, what conclusions he has reached as to the reasons for the fall in the number of new episodes of care since 1996–97.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The reason for the fall in new episodes of care may be due to an increase in the average duration of each episode of care which rose from about three months in 1996–97 to over four months in 1999–2000. However, only cautious interpretations are possible on so small a sample of data. The full data set are available on the website at www.doh.gov.uk/public/KT240001

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of people in contact with specialist mental health services have access to crisis resolution services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	As at 31 October 2001 local implementation teams reported that there were 52 crisis resolution teams in place out of a NHS Plan target of 335.
	It is further reported via the local implementation teams (LITs) self assessment reports that 4 per cent. of LITs had complete coverage of this type of service for its population and that a further 44 per cent. of LITs had a service although it was still being developed in line with service specifications and population need.
	It is not possible at this point to equate the responses to the actual populations served but it would appear that service developments currently allow for the availability of a service to almost 50 per cent. of the LIT populations.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which PFI project in mental health services have been (a) approved and (b) had contracts signed since 5 November 2001.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership National Health Service Trust was given approval to proceed under the private finance initiative on 11 February 2002 for the modernisation of mental health services.
	No PFI contracts for mental health service schemes valued above £1 million have been signed since 5 November 2001. Central records are not kept for schemes below this value.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 741W, on the "Mind Out For Mental Health" campaign, whether working minds employers' tool kits are available; and what stocks there are.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Tookits can be accessed from the employer's section of the campaign website at www.mindout.net, and can be downloaded free of charge by users.
	An order has been placed for a reprint of a further 1,000 working minds employers' toolkits. We hope that these will be available in March 2002.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for the national women's mental health strategy; and if he will make a statement on progress.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The Department will publish the women's mental health consultation document later in the year.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to launch the consultation on the black and ethnic minority mental health service users' strategy.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 29 October 2001, Official Report, column 554W and on 5 November 2001, Official Report, columns 101–05W.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health out of area admissions which were not clinically indicated there were in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 January 2002
	The information requested is not available centrally.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the number of staff supporting mental health carers has changed since he set his target.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The National Plan set a target for 2004 that 700 more staff will be recruited to increase the breaks available for carers and to strengthen carer support networks. In pursuance of this target, all regular carers of people with mental health problems will have been identified, received an assessment and have their own care support plans by April 2004. By June 2004, local support networks for these carers will have been developed.
	The statutory and voluntary sector currently provide support to carers, and the Department is developing a service specification for carers support services which will be available in April against which we will measure progress.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 741W, on the "Mind Out For Mental Health" campaign, whether decisions have been made on communications expenditure for 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Decisions have not been made on communications expenditure for 2002–03.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new graduate primary care mental health workers have been employed since he set his target.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Central information on the number of new graduate primary care mental health workers is not yet available. Funds to support the appointment of 1,000 such staff will be allocated in 2003–04.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prisons will have no mental health in-reach services by 2004.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	By March 2004, mental health in-reach services are planned to be available in the 70 or so prisons in England and Wales judged to have the greatest mental health need, of a current total of 136 establishments.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 1 November 2001, Official Report, column 817W, on mental health services, by what means he intends to assess whether he has reached his target that by 2004 no out of area crisis mental health admissions which are not clinically indicated take place.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The Department is working with the national health service to develop reporting lines which differentiate between crisis admissions that are appropriately referred and dealt with by out of area services and those that were not.
	The development of robust crisis resolution teams nationally would allow for a degree of confidence that no admissions were occurring out of area inappropriately.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much of the 2001–02 budget for the National Institute for Mental Health has been spent.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	At the end of January, £373,000 had been spent on the National Institute for Mental Health.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many more community mental health staff have been employed since he set his target.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The NHS Plan sets a target for 500 more community mental health staff.
	Community mental health staff are employed by the national health service, local authorities and voluntary and independent sector organisations. Data currently collected by the Department identify community psychiatry nurses but medical, therapy and social care staff working in mental health services in the community are not identified separately.
	Between 1999, baseline for the NHS Plan, and 2001, the number of qualified community psychiatry nurses employed in the NHS increased from 10,552 to 12,224. In the same period all staff employed in community psychiatry increased from 12,989 to 14,905.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health early intervention teams have been established; and what his target is.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The local implementation teams submitted details on services developed in a service mapping exercise which was validated by 31 October 2001.
	Based on the details in those reports there were 16 early intervention teams in place by that date out of a target for 2003–04 of 50, as set out in the NHS plan.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of whether it will be possible to meet his commitment that no prisoner with serious mental illness will leave prison without a care plan and a care co-ordinator by 2004.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Mental health in-reach services to prisons are already being established in 22 prisons in England and Wales this year. We plan to expand that to an additional 25 prisons during 2002–03, with further development during 2003–04 so that by March 2004 in-reach will be available within the 70 or so prisons judged to have the greatest mental health need.
	By targeting need in this way we expect to be able to encompass within the in-reach project the 5,000 prisoners at any one time who have severe and enduring mental illness. This will ensure that they are receiving more comprehensive services while in prison, and more effective throughcare when they are released.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many mental health crisis resolution teams have now been established; and what his target is.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The local implementation teams (LITs) submitted details on services developed in a service mapping exercise which was validated by 31 October 2001.
	Based on the details in those reports there were 52 crisis resolution teams in place by that date out of a target for March 2004, of 335, as set out in the NHS plan.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress he has made in evaluating the Working Minds programme.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	As I indicated in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 26 November 2001, Official Report, column 742W, evaluation of the Working Minds programme is continuing.

Mental Health

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mental health in-reach services in prisons are operating; and how many prisoners have such services available to them

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Mental health in-reach services are being developed in 18 English prisons during 2001–02, as well as in the four Welsh prisons. Once established, these services will be available to any prisoner within those establishments who is assessed as needing the level of mental health care that in-reach offers.
	We are planning to expand in-reach services during 2002–03 and 2003–04 so that by March 2004 it will be available in around 70 prisons judged to have the greatest mental health need.

Nursing Homes

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many nursing homes have had their residents assessed for eligibility for Government contributions to their nursing care;
	(2)  what proportion of residents of nursing homes who have been assessed for Government contributions to their nursing costs have been judged as eligible to receive those payments; and in what bands of payment these residents fall.

Jacqui Smith: The Department does not collect such data centrally on a routine basis. However, preliminary information available from regions of the position at the end of December, indicates that around 80 per cent. of the nursing homes with residents eligible for national health service funded nursing care had had their residents' needs for care determined by a registered nurse. The majority of the remainder will be completed by the end of this month.

Stroke

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of stroke patients were treated in special stroke units in each of the last five years; and what were the survival rates in each case;
	(2)  what have been the survival rates for stroke patients treated in non-specialist units in each of the last five years.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 8 January 2002
	The information requested on the percentage of stroke patients treated in special stroke units and the survival rates for stroke patients treated in non-specialist units is not collected centrally.
	The Royal College of Physician's sentinel audit published in 1999 did show however, that 18 per cent. of stroke patients spent at least 50 per cent. of their time in a stroke unit. A subsequent audit in 2000 showed that this figure had risen to 26 per cent.
	The National Service Framework (NSF) for Older People, published on 27 March 2001, requires 100 per cent. of all general hospitals which care for people with stroke to have a specialised stroke service, as described in the NSF stroke service model, by April 2004.

Correspondence

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Torbay of 23 October 2001 regarding Dr. Mehta and Dexa screening services.

Jacqui Smith: A reply was sent on 29 January.

Criminal Records Bureau

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to help local authority social services meet charges incurred by criminal record checks from the Criminal Records Bureau.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 January 2002
	The cost of certificates will be charged to the individual on whom the check is sought, although there is nothing to stop an employer such as a local authority reimbursing the individual if they so wish.

Medical Treatment (Scotland)

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients resident in England and Wales received treatment at medical facilities in Scotland in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answer 16 January 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox) on 10 January 2002, Official Report, columns 997–98W.

Ministerial Rail Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he last used the railway service in connection with his official duties; what station he left from and what was the destination; and whether it is his intention to make greater use of the railways in future.

Hazel Blears: My right hon. Friend last used the railway in connection with official duties on 14 November 2001 travelling from London to Harrogate.
	All arrangements for official travel are made in line with guidance set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial code and the accompanying guidance document "Travel by Ministers", using the most efficient and cost effective mode of transport, and bearing in mind security considerations.

Mortality Rates

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaths in (a) the UK and (b) the London Borough of Hillingdon there have been in each of the last five years from (i) cancer, (ii) heart disease and (iii) stroke.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Annual mortality from coronary heart disease (ICD9 410–414): Number of deaths, 1995 to 1999, all ages
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Males  
			 England 67,640 65,889 62,668 61,254 58,496 
			 Hillingdon 283 284 261 276 238 
			   
			 Females  
			 England 56,246 54,903 52,182 51,211 47,964 
			 Hillingdon 230 238 191 189 176 
			   
			 Persons  
			 England 123,886 120,792 114,850 112,465 106,460 
			 Hillingdon 513 522 452 465 414 
		
	
	
		Annual mortality from stroke (ICD9 430–438): Number of deaths, 1995 to 1999, all ages
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Males  
			 England 20,632 20,822 20,275 19,994 19,314 
			 Hillingdon 80 69 86 70 64 
			   
			 Females  
			 England 35,076 35,268 33,872 33,677 32,957 
			 Hillingdon 124 147 153 108 118 
			   
			 Persons  
			 England 55,708 56,090 54,147 53,671 52,271 
			 Hillingdon 204 216 239 178 182 
		
	
	
		Annual mortality from all malignant neoplasms (ICD9 140–208): Number of deaths, 1995 to 1999, all ages
		
			  1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 
		
		
			 Males  
			 England 67,740 67,356 65,874 66,592 64,922 
			 Hillingdon 283 292 295 282 275 
			   
			 Females  
			 England 62,087 62,119 61,278 60,943 60,240 
			 Hillingdon 279 296 291 290 265 
			 Persons  
			 England 129,827 129,475 127,152 127,535 125,162 
			 Hillingdon 562 588 586 572 540

Health Authorities (West Midlands)

George Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the underspend or overspend was in (a) 1999–2000 (b) 2000–01 and the latest forecast figures for (i) 2001–02 and (ii) 2002–03 for each health authority in the west midlands region.

Yvette Cooper: The level of under or overspending for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is shown in the table. By the end of this financial year we expect all health authorities to live within their agreed resource limits. Where they require support at year-end this will be provided principally through brokerage from elsewhere in the national health service. This is normal practice in managing the year-end financial position of individual bodies and for the NHS overall. Information for 2003–03 is not available.
	
		£000 
		
			 Health authority 1999–2000 Surplus/ (deficit) 2000–01 Over/(under) spending 
		
		
			 Birmingham HA (1,899) 766 
			 Coventry HA (5,230) 2,263 
			 Dudley HA (51) 585 
			 Herefordshire HA 822 220 
			 North Staffordshire HA (625) 0 
			 Sandwell HA (2,896) 0 
			 Shropshire HA (1,729) 180 
			 Solihull HA (133) 625 
			 South Staffordshire HA (4,593) 2,025 
			 Walsall HA (909) 577 
			 Warwickshire HA (8,661) 3,167 
			 Wolverhampton HA (2,812) 41 
			 Worcestershire HA (1,482) 1,199 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Under or overspends have been interpreted as income and expenditure surpluses or deficits in 1999–2000.
	2. Following the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting, the operational financial balance has been used as a measure of under or overspending in 2000–01. All health authorities in west midlands achieved break-even or an underspend in these terms.
	Source:
	Health authority audited summarisation forms 1999–2000 and 2000–2001

Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance has been issued to health authorities regarding adult growth hormone replacement therapy;
	(2)  how many health authorities provide funding for adult growth hormone replacement therapy.

Jacqui Smith: Information about funding for adult growth hormone replacement therapy is not centrally available.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence is currently carrying out two appraisals, human growth hormone in children which is due in April 2002, providing there are no appeals and human growth hormone in adults which is due in July 2002, providing there are no appeals.

NHS Trusts

Evan Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cumulative (a) surplus and (b) deficit was of (i) each NHS trust by region, (ii) each region and (iii) England in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested has been placed in the Library.

Whittington Hospital

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the length of time spent by Mr. Sidney Hockley in the Accident and Emergency Unit at the Whittington hospital; and if his officials contacted (a) Mr. Hockley and (b) Miss Lesley Hockley on the subject.

John Hutton: holding answer 30 January 2002
	Mr. Hockley was seen and treated by the medical staff throughout his stay and his nursing notes record appropriate observation and care. On the grounds of patient confidentiality it would not be appropriate to discuss this patient's care further.
	No departmental officials contacted Mr. Hockley or Miss Lesley Hockley on this subject.

Intermediate Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 16 November 2001, Official Report, column 940W, on intermediate care, if he will publish the results of the survey showing the (a) current and (b) base line figures for each NHS region, health authority and trust and the methodology used.

Jacqui Smith: The survey of national health service intermediate care in England validated the 1999–2000 baseline and established current levels of provision using the defining criteria in the January 2001 circular (Health Service Circular 2001/01:Local Authority Circular (2001)1). In August 2001, local health and social care communities were asked to provide data for intermediate care services in place in 1999–2000, and those planned at that time for 2001–02, to enable progress in achieving the NHS Plan targets for intermediate care beds and places to be measured.
	The results of the survey show that by the end of this year there will be, compared to the baseline of 1999–2000, around an additional:
	2,400 intermediate care beds
	6,200 non-residential intermediate care places
	126,000 people in receipt of intermediate care services.
	The full results of the survey, giving data by region and by health authority, are in the Library. Data by individual trust were not collected.

Dietary Supplements

Huw Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the European directive on dietary supplements.

Yvette Cooper: The proposed directive would establish the framework for harmonised controls on vitamin and mineral content of food supplements and introduce a number of useful labelling measures. The impact on consumer choice and the specialist food supplement sector would depend on future developments on maximum limits and lists of permitted nutrients.

Landfill Sites

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has commissioned regarding the health risks to children living in close proximity to landfill sites.

Yvette Cooper: The Department, together with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Environment Agency, has commissioned the following reviews and research projects on the impacts of health on landfill sites:
	1. A review of existing data to assess whether substances emanating from landfill sites have potential to cause congenital malformations (birth defects).
	2. A review of the known causes of congenital malformations,
	3. A study of the geographical variation in overall rates of congenital anomalies and the rates of specific anomalies, and
	4. Exposure assessment of landfill sites. A Government-funded study of birth outcomes and selected cancers in populations living near landfill sites, carried out by the Small Area Health Statistics Unit, was published in August 2001. A copy of the report is available in the Library and on the Department's website. Further information on the research programme can also be found on the website www.doh.gov.uk/landh.htm

Landfill Sites

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received regarding health risks to families living in close proximity to landfill sites.

Yvette Cooper: The Department is aware of a number of research studies published in the scientific literature which investigate health outcomes in people living near landfill sites. These have been considered by the Department, which has sought advice from the independent expert advisory committee, the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT). They felt that it was not possible to draw any definite conclusions regarding possible health effects from these studies and further research was warranted. The most recent statement by the COT is available on the Department's website www.doh.gov.uk/landh.htm. We have commissioned a programme of work on the impacts on health of landfill sites, details of which are also available on the website, and the Department continues to monitor relevant publications.

Heart Disease

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on measures introduced since 1997 to help combat heart disease.

Yvette Cooper: We have made it clear that tackling heart disease is one of our top priorities and in March 2000, we published the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart Disease which sets out standards for improving prevention, diagnosis and treatment services throughout the country. A progress report, entitled "Delivering Better Heart Services", issued November 2001 is available in the Library.

Lister Hospital

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the child accident and emergency ward at the Lister hospital to be opened to patients; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 1 February 2002
	East and North Hertfordshire National Health Service Trust has received additional funding through the reforming emergency care strategy announced last year and is in the process of recruiting five whole time equivalent nurses to staff the paediatric assessment unit at the Lister hospital. The opening of the paediatric assessment unit will be dependent on successful recruitment to these posts.

Delayed Discharge

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of delayed discharge was for (a) patients aged over 75 years in March 1997 and (b) all patients in the quarter end December 2001.

Jacqui Smith: In March 1997 the rate of delayed discharge (on any one day the percentage of patients over 75 years old occupying an acute hospital bed whose discharge is delayed) was 13 per cent. The most recent data available are for September 2001 when the equivalent rate for patients over 75 was 12 per cent. and for patients of all ages 6.6 per cent.

Operations (South Humber)

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were carried out in the South Humber health authority area in each year from 1992 to 2001; and how many operations were cancelled in each of those years.

Jacqui Smith: The table details the operations carried out in the South Humber health authority area in each year from 1991–2001.
	
		Finished consultant episodes (FCEs) where an operation was performed NHS hospitals, South Humber HA (formerly Grimsby and Scunthorpe DHA) 1992–93 to 2000–01
		
			 (D)HA Year FCEs 
		
		
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe DHA 1992–93 33,482 
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe DHA 1993–94 32,224 
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe DHA 1994–95 34,635 
			 Grimsby and Scunthorpe DHA 1995–96 37,816 
			 South Humber HA 1996–97 35,908 
			 South Humber HA 1997–98 39,266 
			 South Humber HA 1998–99 45,308 
			 South Humber HA 1999–2000 47,022 
			 South Humber HA 2000–01 52,480 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. An FCE is defined as a period of patient care under one consultant in one health care provider. The figures do not represent the number of patients, as one person may have several episodes within the year.
	2. Care must be taken when analysing time series data by health authority as boundaries may have changed over the years.
	3. Data in this table are adjusted for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data, except for 1998–99 to 2000–01 which are not yet adjusted for shortfalls.
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health
	The following table shows the number of operations cancelled in the South Humber health authority area for the years 1996–67 to 2000–01. Information is not available for the years prior to 1996.
	
		Total number of last minute cancelled operations for non-clinical reasons, South Humber health authority, 1996–97 to 2000–01
		
			  2001–01 1999–2000 1998–99 1997–98 1996–97 
		
		
			 Quarter 1 59 82 77 40 99 
			 Quarter 2 80 74 80 41 66 
			 Quarter 3 67 64 52 58 49 
			 Quarter 4 86 113 65 54 31 
			 Total for year 292 33 274 193 245 
		
	
	Note:
	Data prior to 1996 are not available
	Source:
	DH form QMPC and QMNG

Foundation Status Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an NHS trust with foundation status which has established a joint venture company will (a) have to meet financial liabilities from its own budget and (b) have recourse to NHS material funds.

John Hutton: The details surrounding the establishment of foundation hospitals have not yet been determined. The Department will work with chief executives of three star national health service trusts to examine the legal, financial, governance and accountability issues.

Foundation Status Trusts

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the funds which will be spent by NHS trusts seeking foundation status in the (a) current and (b) next financial year.

John Hutton: No estimates have been made of the funds which will be spent by national health service trusts seeking foundation status. In part, this will depend upon the number of trusts making applications in each year. No trusts are seeking foundation status in the current financial year.

NHS Accommodation (London)

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of nursing or doctor accommodation were (a) sold, (b) put up for sale and (c) withdrawn from sale in each of the last 10 years by NHS organisations in London.

John Hutton: The information requested is not available in respect of both property owned by NHS trusts and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.
	The NHS Plan recognises the need for extra residential accommodation for nurses and other staff in London and we are well on course to deliver the target of 2,000 extra places for nurses and other national health service staff by July 2003.

Hospital Admissions

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many day admissions to hospitals there were in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The numbers of day case admissions to hospitals for each year from 1991–92 to 2000–01 (the last 10 years for which data are available) are outlined in the table.
	
		Day case admissions for national health service hospitals in England
		
			   Day cases 
		
		
			 1991–92 1,546,778 
			 1992–93 1,784,091 
			 1993–94 2,106,998 
			 1994–95 2,490,893 
			 1995–96 2,745,936 
			 1996–97 2,891,685 
			 1997–98 3,085,832 
			 1998–99 3,420,795 
			 1999–2000 3,592,574 
			 2000–01 3,619,521

NHS Asset Sales

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, columns 781–82W, on the NHS, what was the total value of the (a) land and (b) buildings and other assets disposed of by each three star NHS trust since 1997.

John Hutton: The tables show the total value of (a) land and (b) buildings and other assets disposed of by each of the three star national health service trusts since 1997.
	
		NHS trust net book value of disposals -- £000
		
			  NHS trust code  NHS trust name  Land Buildings and other assets 
		
		
			 1997–98(26)
			 RGT Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 88 244 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 0 111 
			 RCP Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Service Trust 31 12 
			 RMB Blackburn, H'burn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 0 5 
			 RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 0 80 
			 RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 0 429 
			 RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust 0 67 
			 RCV Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 1,500 3,993 
			 RFS Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust 0 409 
			 RLN City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 9 27 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 775 18 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RGB Huddersfield Health Care Services NHS Trust 32 181 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 180 433 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 0 63 
			 RQ8 Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 6,584 1,971 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 33 98 
			 RNS Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 0 108 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 0 7 
			 RGN Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 15 42 
			 RQW Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 0 16 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 156 216 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 0 60 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 43 187 
			 RE9 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust 0 274 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 0 306 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 0 16 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 0 17 
			 
			 1998–99(27)
			 RGT Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 3,751 3,153 
			 RCP Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Service Trust 0 196 
			 RMB Blackburn, H'burn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 0 8 
			 RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 0 54 
			 RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 834 652 
			 RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust 0 80 
			 RCV Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 0 197 
			 RFS Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust 0 65 
			 RLN City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 24 106 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 26 61 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RGB Huddersfield Health Care Services NHS Trust 22 126 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 0 19 
			 RQ8 Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 0 255 
			 RTX Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 0 266 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RNS Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 0 171 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 0 1 
			 RTF Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 0 38 
			 RGN Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 94 257 
			 RQW Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 0 11 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 8,273 1,577 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 0 113 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 108 414 
			 RTA South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RE9 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust 0 194 
			 RTG Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 56 364 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 362 1,899 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 0 10 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 0 39 
			 1999–2000
			 RGT Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 0 439 
			 RCP Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Service Trust 0 0 
			 RMB Blackburn, H'burn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 360 7 
			 RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 0 8 
			 RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 48 409 
			 RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust 118 120 
			 RCV Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 0 34 
			 RFS Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust 0 12 
			 RLN City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 0 20 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RGB Huddersfield Health Care Services NHS Trust 0 290 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 750 1,317 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 95 174 
			 RQ8 Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RTX Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 0 68 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RVW North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 100 799 
			 RNS Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 108 8 
			 RTF Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RGN Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 0 6 
			 RQW Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 2,400 7,408 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 0 81 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 0 22 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 119 238 
			 RTA South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 0 141 
			 RE9 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust 307 89 
			 RTG Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 0 132 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 0 56 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 16 152 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 33 103 
			 
			 2000–01
			 RGT Addenbrooke's NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RDD Basildon and Thurrock General Hospital NHS Trust 0 6 
			 RCP Bassetlaw Hospital and Community Health Service Trust 0 0 
			 RMB Blackburn, H'burn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust 0 2 
			 RMR Blackpool Victoria Hospital NHS Trust 0 15 
			 RAE Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust 0 204 
			 RGA Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust 0 89 
			 RCV Central Sheffield University Hospitals NHS Trust 2,544 195 
			 RFS Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Hospital Trust 0 11 
			 RLN City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Trust 0 14 
			 RJR Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RA5 East Gloucestershire NHS Trust 0 242 
			 RDU Frimley Park Hospital NHS Trust 0 23 
			 RGB Huddersfield Health Care Services NHS Trust 0 85 
			 RJZ King's College Hospital NHS Trust 0 1,552 
			 RC9 Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 407 768 
			 RQ8 Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RTX Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 282 949 
			 RM1 Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust 0 153 
			 RVW North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust 0 22 
			 RNS Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust 94 273 
			 RBZ Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust 0 17 
			 RTF Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RGN Peterborough Hospitals NHS Trust 100 353 
			 RQW Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust 0 4 
			 RG2 Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 3,172 16,086 
			 RH8 Royal Devon and Exeter Healthcare NHS Trust 0 28 
			 RK5 Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust 0 115 
			 RA9 South Devon Health Care NHS Trust 0 134 
			 RTA South Durham Health Care NHS Trust 0 0 
			 RE9 South Tyneside Health Care NHS Trust 81 136 
			 RTG Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 0 216 
			 RBA Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust 0 5 
			 RGR West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust 0 49 
			 RN1 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 0 47 
		
	
	(26) The following trusts were not in existence in this year:
	Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust
	North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
	Northumbria Health Care NHS Trust
	South Durham Health Care NHS Trust
	Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
	(27) The following trusts were not in existence in this year:
	North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust
	Sources:
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1997–98
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1998–99
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 1999–2000
	NHS Trust Summarisation Schedules 2000–01

NHS Asset Sales

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total income from sales of property by NHS trusts and health authorities was in each financial year since 1997–98; and what his estimate is for each of the next five years.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table. The figures for 2001–02, 2002–03 and 2003–04 are estimated.
	
		£ million
		
			  Financial year Income from sale of property by NHS trust and health authorities 
		
		
			 1997–98 231 
			 1998–99 242 
			 1999–2000 215 
			 2000–01 382 
			 2001–02 141 
			 2002–03 55 
			 2003–04 158 
			 2004–05 (28)— 
			 2005–06 (28)— 
			 2006–07 (28)— 
		
	
	(28) Not available

Departmental Underspend

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the total underspend in his Department was on (a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure in each financial year since May 1997.

John Hutton: holding answer 7 February 2002
	The information requested is given in the table.
	
		£million 
		
			 Year Capital  Non-capital  
		
		
			 1997–98 124 56 
			 1998–99 106 177 
			 1999–2000 220 -44 
			 2000–01 142 550 
		
	
	Notes
	1. Figures for 1997–98 to 1999–2000 based on Department of Health Appropriation Accounts adjusted for NHS trust non-voted expenditure.
	2. 2000–01 figures are provisional and on a resource basis. They are not comparable with previous years. They include £250 million carry forward of the Department's unallocated provision.
	3. A negative sign denotes an overspend on that part of the vote.

Personal Social Services

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what responsibility social services authorities have to identify unmet need for care and personal social services.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 7 February 2002
	Recent guidance issued by the Department "Building capacity and partnership in care" reminds councils with social services responsibilities that they should commission services on the basis of rounded assessments of current and future needs within the general population, and they should identify gaps and shortfalls in services in the context of service users' aspirations.
	At a practical level, councils should take account of the numbers of people who approach them for help, and their presenting problems, but who are not eligible for council support. They will be assisted in this task through reference to the Department's statistical return "Referrals, Assessments and Packages of Care". Councils may use this information when reviewing their eligibility criteria and the services they provide.
	In addition, once councils with social services responsibilities have identified needs that fall within their eligibility criteria, they should meet those needs in the most cost-effective way. Councils should monitor and review the provision of care services to individuals to ensure that services remain appropriate and suitable and that assessed needs are met.

International Recruitment

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 781W, on international recruitment, if he will list those international nursing recruitment agencies which have failed to adhere to the code of practice; and where he publishes such information.

John Hutton: There are no plans to publish the names of the international nursing recruitment agencies who fail to adhere to the Code of Practice. We do not plan to publish a list of those international nursing recruitment agencies who have signed up to comply with the code.

Overseas Treatment

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects anonymised data to be available to allow him to publish the cost of sending patients abroad for treatment.

John Hutton: holding answer 8 February 2002
	The test bed scheme will finish later this year and is being evaluated. We will make further information on prices available in the light of the evaluation of the scheme.

Eating Disorders

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the 2000–01 figures for hospital admissions in respect of eating disorders.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 11 February 2002
	There were 1,700 finished consultant episodes with a primary diagnosis of eating disorder in 2000–01. These figures have not yet been adjusted for shortfalls in data and therefore have a provisional status.

Care Homes

John Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance he has published regarding items for which a deduction may be made from the personal expenses allowance by a care home; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether deductions may be made from the personal expenses allowance for people in care homes to meet (a) any shortfall in fees and (b) items and services;
	(3)  if he will make it his policy that older people in care homes should not be required to contribute part of the personal expenses allowance to meet a shortfall in fees unless it is their express wish to do so.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Under National Assistance (Sums for Personal Requirements) Regulations, council-supported residents in care homes should receive a personal expenses allowance, currently standing at £16.05 per week. It is for the residents' personal use and the full amount should be made available to residents. It may not be spent on services contracted by councils from homes, and should not be spent on services to meet assessed need identified by either the council or the national health service.
	Because services to meet assessed needs should be tailored to each individual's specific circumstances, it is not helpful to publish definitive lists of what the personal expenses allowance should or should not be spent on.
	Subject to informed consent and prior agreement, residents may have arrangements with care home managers so that items and services, which do not form part of the contract with the council and are not part of council or NHS services to meet assessed need, are automatically paid for out of the personal expenses allowance.
	Residents, except those subject to the 12 weeks property disregard or a deferred payments agreement, should not use resources either disregarded or not taken into account by the financial assessment for council- supported residential care to pay for more expensive accommodation than the council would normally fund. These resources include the personal expenses allowance. These matters are covered in guidance issued to councils.
	Care home residents whose entitlement to higher rates of income support was preserved in 1993 also receive a personal expenses allowance through income support regulations. This allowance is meant for residents' own use on small personal items. In limited circumstances, preserved rights residents who have difficulty in meeting care home fees may be financially helped by councils. The responsibility for preserved rights cases is transferred to councils in April 2002. These residents will be entitled to the personal expenses allowance under National Assistance regulations.

Angioplasty (North Yorkshire)

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received about the cancellation of proposed coronary angioplasty procedures for patients in North Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	North Yorkshire health authority is aware that concerns have been raised about provision of angioplasty services for local residents due to a misunderstanding in communication for which the health authority took full responsibility. This position has been clarified with all cardiologists and patients. Cardiologists across North Yorkshire continue to treat patients and provide angioplasty in accordance with normal clinical practice.

Angioplasty (North Yorkshire)

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will investigate the decision by North Yorkshire Health authority not to fund proposed coronary angioplasty procedures for patients who had been referred to Leeds Health Trust by consultants at York District hospital as in need of urgent treatment.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	Cardiologists across North Yorkshire continue to treat patients and provide angioplasty in accordance with normal clinical practice. Whenever the procedure takes place, North Yorkshire health authority will provide the required funding. The health authority has clarified this position with all cardiologists serving local residents.

Angioplasty (North Yorkshire)

John Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide the necessary emergency funding to North Yorkshire health authority to ensure that all patients in the county requiring coronary angioplasty procedures can leave their treatment carried out at Leeds General Infirmary.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	All patients requiring angioplasty are proceeding with their treatment in accordance with usual clinical practice. By the end of the current financial year North Yorkshire health authority is likely to have spent around £450,000 extra, treating patients in need of this procedure. Discussions are ongoing with regard to identifying resources to match the clinical need in 2002–03.

Student Midwives

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what grants are made available to student midwives.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 February 2002
	National health service bursaries are available to those accepted onto NHS-funded pre-registration midwifery training programmes at both diploma and degree levels.
	Those undertaking the diploma-level qualification receive a non-means tested bursary (currently £5,305 (£6,232 in London)), while those on the degree-level programme receive a means tested bursary (current rate £2,098 (£2,578 in London)) and student loan. Degree-level students receive additional payments to take account of the longer length of academic year undertaken by health professional students and for both groups additional allowances are available to older students, single parents and others with dependants.
	In addition the NHS meets all students' liability for a tuition fee contribution (currently £1,075) on their behalf, in full and without means testing.
	With effect from September 2001 the basic bursaries were increased by 10.4 per cent. coupled with a 2.4 per cent. inflation increase in the additional allowances and other elements of the bursary scheme. This was the biggest increase since the introduction of the bursary more than 10 years ago.

Student Midwives

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements exist to help student midwives complete their courses in the event of financial hardship.

John Hutton: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 November 2001, Official Report, column 851W, which detailed the additional support available to student nurses who experience financial hardship. The same package is available to student midwives experiencing similar difficulties.

Suicides

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in reducing the mortality rate from suicide since his target was set.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 23 October 2001, Official Report, column 147W.

Suicides

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether a date has been set to launch the suicide prevention strategy.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	We expect to publish a draft national suicide prevention strategy for public consultation in spring 2002, followed by the final agreed strategy around July 2002.

Patient Consultants (Waiting Times)

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 6 December 2001, Official Report, column 487W, on patient consultations, what recent research his Department has carried out on the average length of patient consultation times with (a) GPs and (b) hospital consultants; and what the findings were.

John Hutton: The Department has not conducted any recent research on how long general practitioners or hospital consultants currently spend on consultations.

Children's National Service Framework

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has finished the timetable for the Children's National Service Framework; and if he will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 12 February 2002
	The first part of the Children's National Service Framework, standards for children receiving acute/ hospital care, will be published this year. The timetable for the publication of the rest of NSF has not yet been finalised.

Asbestos

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the relative health risks posed by (i) brown, (ii) blue and (iii) white varieties of asbestos.

Alan Whitehead: I have been asked to reply.
	The report of the research by HSE epidemiologists, "The Quantitative Risks of Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer in Relation to Asbestos Exposure", was published in the Annals of Occupational Hygiene on 1 December 2000. This paper evaluated the relative health risks of blue, brown and white asbestos. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

Parliamentary Questions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will answer the written question tabled by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak on 25 October, ref. 10662.

Jacqui Smith: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 28 November 2001, Official Report, column 973W.

Correspondence

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to provide an answer to the question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 4 December 2001, Ref 20380.

Hazel Blears: I replied to the hon. Member on 8 February 2002, Official Report, column 1237W.

Correspondence

Marion Roe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the hon. Member for Broxbourne will receive a reply to her letters of 12 October, 16 November, 12 December 2001 and 9 January 2002, relating to her constituent, Mrs. T. Shah of Cheshunt.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 January 2002
	A reply was sent on 29 January 2002.

Audiology Treatment

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients aged (a) 16 to 59, (b) 60 to 75 and (c) over 75 years were waiting for (i) hearing tests and (ii) other audiology treatment by (A) hospital trust and (B) health authority in each quarter for the last three years.

Jacqui Smith: Data on waiting times for hearing tests are not collected centrally.
	Data are collected on the number of out-patients waiting over 13 weeks for 'audiological medicine'. These are shown in the table. These data are not collected in age-ranges.
	Audiology in-patients are treated within the ear, nose and throat specialty. Data on the number of patients specifically waiting for audiology treatment within the ENT specialty are not collected centrally.
	The "Action on ENT" initiative, which has been established as part of our modernisation strategy for the NHS, is improving access to ENT and audiology services. One element of the initiative focuses specifically on audiology, with the aim of spreading best practice to all audiology departments. Audiology departments are supported to re-design the way services are provided in order to improve access and reduce waiting times.
	
		Number of out-patients still waiting at quarter end over 13 weeks for first out-patient appointment in audiological medicine following GP referral
		
			 Name September 1998 December 1998 March 1999 June 1999 September 1999 December 1999 
		
		
			 Data by trust   
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 City and Hackney PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Central Manchester PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Royal Surrey County and St. Luke's Hospitals NHS Trust 118 89 87 78 68 25 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 129 126 100 132 131 297 
			 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University Hospital NHS Trust 145 169 150 147 239 98 
			 Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 243 181 131 76 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 33 35 40 28 31 52 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust 29 31 30 7 2 2 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 22 60 67 112 130 77 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 0 6 7 7 36 0 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 2 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 2 1 0 1 1 0 
			 Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust 8 18 17 4 13 0 
			 City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust 2 3 4 1 0 1 
			 Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Surrey Sussex healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 30 13 13 
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 0 0 0 99 145 125 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		
			  March 2000 June 2000 September 2000 December 2000 March 2001 June 2001 September 2001 
		
		
			 Barking and Dagenham PCT 0 0 0 0 0 15 9 
			 City and Hackney PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Central Manchester PCT 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Royal Surrey County and St. Luke's Hospitals NHS Trust 8 18 1 5 26 32 34 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 260 144 192 303 288 377 435 
			 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 
			 Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham, University Hospital NHS Trust 55 1 3 4 2 2 3 
			 Brighton Healthcare NHS Trust 28 40 84 57 182 206 0 
			 Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 233 185 
			 Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust 69 54 79 51 31 82 93 
			 Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospital NHS Trust 3 17 11 17 11 19 104 
			 St. Mary's NHS Trust 0 68 86 83 86 74 17 
			 St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 67 147 192 90 243 377 438 
			 King's College Hospital NHS Trust 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 
			 Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust 0 2 0 3 7 4 3 
			 Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 
			 Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 
			 Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust 0 1 0 14 0 39 0 
			 City and Hackney Community Services NHS Trust 0 1 2 2 0 0 1 
			 Southern Derbyshire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 11 3 6 9 
			 Surrey Sussex healthcare NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 
			 Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 9 39 22 14 22 28 32 
			 Epsom and St. Helier NHS Trust 113 141 137 109 76 106 120 
			 Central Manchester and Manchester Children's University Hospitals NHS Trust 0 0 0 0 0 6 4 
			 East and North Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 0 14 10 24 15 35 37 
		
	
	
		
			 Name September 1998 December 1998 March 1999 June 1999 September 1999 December 1999 
		
		
			 Data by health authority   
			 Hillingdon HA 10 34 91 0 0 4 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 6 6 8 8 8 21 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 3 4 7 9 9 0 
			 Bedfordshire HA 5 5 4 15 6 0 
			 Berkshire HA 0 25 28 12 5 4 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 0 1 1 1 0 0 
			 Croydon HA 1 3 6 1 8 10 
			 East Kent HA 0 0 1 2 0 0 
			 West Kent HA 2 2 1 2 2 3 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 0 0 2 2 7 5 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 2 13 16 6 11 8 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 18 287 236 199 255 186 
			 East Surrey HA 7 1 6 8 11 7 
			 West Surrey HA 97 81 73 50 69 23 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 1 0 196 145 105 55 
			 West Sussex HA 20 3 25 15 40 23 
			 Barking and Havering HA 8 2 0 4 4 3 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 11 14 7 31 16 22 
			 Camden and Islington HA 40 0 31 31 31 31 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 7 9 2 3 4 3 
			 East London and City HA 4 11 3 15 15 15 
			 North Essex HA 0 1 1 1 1 4 
			 South Essex HA 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Manchester HA 22 14 51 53 19 20 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 0 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 1 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Stockport HA 0 1 1 0 1 0 
			 Oxfordshire HA 15 53 68 64 74 166 
			 Suffolk HA 0 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Barnsley HA 2 3 6 6 0 8 
			 North Derbyshire HA 16 13 14 13 14 6 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 3 16 15 10 14 8 
			 Doncaster HA 2 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Lincolnshire HA 2 2 4 2 1 0 
			 Nottingham HA 136 148 133 136 239 90 
			 Rotherham HA 7 6 6 0 0 8 
			 Sheffield HA 794 956 706 706 753 956 
			 East Lancashire HA 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 14 17 17 10 31 1 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire HA 0 0 2 1 12 0 
			 Somerset HA 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 East Riding and Hull HA 0 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Wakefield HA 0 0 0 3 0 0 
			 Coventry HA 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Warwickshire HA 5 5 1 2 2 54 
			 Cambridgeshire HA 0 0 0 4 0 0 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Hertfordshire HA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  March 2000 June 2000 September 2000 December 2000 March 2001 June 2001 September 2001 
		
		
			 Hillingdon HA 3 5 2 0 2 2 3 
			 Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster HA 23 63 84 80 91 81 56 
			 Redbridge and Waltham Forest HA 16 7 11 9 14 18 18 
			 Bedfordshire HA 0 1 0 1 7 11 8 
			 Berkshire HA 6 20 18 20 10 16 101 
			 Buckinghamshire HA 0 0 1 0 2 0 1 
			 Croydon HA 6 9 5 0 0 3 7 
			 East Kent HA 2 1 2 0 0 1 0 
			 West Kent HA 3 1 1 1 1 4 4 
			 Kingston and Richmond HA 4 11 12 11 1 16 16 
			 Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham HA 6 9 9 13 4 3 29 
			 Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth HA 186 263 293 184 302 433 516 
			 East Surrey HA 5 6 8 16 4 9 22 
			 West Surrey HA 8 16 1 6 23 32 33 
			 East Sussex, Brighton and Hove HA 23 29 60 47 166 194 1 
			 West Sussex HA 13 22 25 15 28 36 5 
			 Barking and Havering HA 2 0 4 4 4 5 6 
			 Brent and Harrow HA 17 57 20 42 37 50 47 
			 Camden and Islington HA 78 47 65 115 97 104 143 
			 Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow HA 1 4 7 11 9 12 14 
			 East London and City HA 43 15 18 39 40 18 71 
			 North Essex HA 0 6 2 8 1 3 5 
			 South Essex HA 0 0 0 4 2 3 2 
			 Manchester HA 4 16 3 4 14 4 5 
			 Morecambe Bay HA 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Salford and Trafford HA 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Stockport HA 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Oxfordshire HA 68 90 55 61 68 88 4 
			 Suffolk HA 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
			 Barnsley HA 12 5 13 11 10 7 6 
			 North Derbyshire HA 15 10 15 17 18 16 9 
			 Southern Derbyshire HA 4 0 0 11 3 5 9 
			 Doncaster HA 1 3 4 6 3 2 2 
			 Lincolnshire HA 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Nottingham HA 49 1 3 4 2 2 3 
			 Rotherham HA 11 11 13 12 14 15 10 
			 Sheffield HA 803 662 641 503 235 7 157 
			 East Lancashire HA 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 North and Mid Hampshire HA 0 2 2 5 5 4 8 
			 Southampton and SW Hampshire HA 1 2 0 3 3 0 1 
			 Somerset HA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 East Riding and Hull HA 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 
			 Wakefield HA 1 1 2 1 1 1 0 
			 Coventry HA 0 0 0 0 0 232 0 
			 South Staffordshire HA 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Warwickshire HA 8 15 12 16 9 8 0 
			 Cambridgeshire HA 1 2 0 14 0 43 0 
			 Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and South East Hampshire n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 78 87 
			 Barnet, Enfield and Haringey n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 81 88 
			 Hertfordshire HA n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 36 43 
			 Bromley, Bexley and Greenwich n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 5 5

Cancer Services

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was allocated for cancer services in (a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02; how much money is allocated for cancer services in 2002–03 in (i) the NHS Cancer Plan and (ii) the NHS Priorities and Planning Framework 2002–03; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 23 January 2002
	In 1999–2000 and 2000–01, resources for cancer services were included in general allocations to the national health service. The Department does not collect information that enables a complete figure to be calculated on the cost of a particular disease.
	The time since the publication of the Cancer Plan (September 2000) has seen the biggest ever increase in funding specifically for cancer services.
	In 2001–02 there was an extra £280 million made available for cancer services as promised in the Cancer Plan.
	The NHS priorities and planning framework for 2002–03 earmarked a further £76 million to increase cancer spending (in 2002–03) as promised in the Cancer Plan.

NHS Pensions

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to allow general practitioners over the age of 50 years to join the NHS pension scheme.

John Hutton: General practitioners are entitled to join or rejoin the national health service pension scheme at any time until age 70, unless they are aged 50 or over and have already received benefits from the NHS scheme.

NHS Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) general practitioner practices, (b) health trusts and (c) health authorities paid their pension contributions late in the last period for which figures are available.

John Hutton: The number of general practitioner practices, national health service trusts and health authorities who have paid pension contributions to the NHS pension scheme for England and Wales after the due date, is set out in the table.
	
		
			   NHS trusts and health authorities General practitioner practices 
		
		
			 November 2001   
			 Number of participating employers 735 631 
			 Number paid after the due date 51 40 
			 Percentage paid after the due date 6.9 6.3 
			
			 March 2001   
			 Number of participating employers 8,579 8,606 
			 Number paid after the due date 1,336 1,642 
			 Percentage paid after the due date 15.6 19.1

Smallpox Vaccine

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of smallpox vaccine are available in the UK.

John Hutton: The Department holds a substantial strategic stock of smallpox vaccine that would be rapidly deployed in the event of an outbreak of the disease. Information about the size and location of the stock is not being put into the public domain as this is information that might be useful to terrorists.

Radiographers (Hillingdon)

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers there were in the Hillingdon Health Authority in each of the last seven years.

John Hutton: The information requested is in the table.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services (HCHS): Scientific, therapeutic and technical and staff employed in the radiography(29) areas of work within the Hillingdon health authority area as at 30 September each year
		
			  Whole-time equivalents Headcount 
		
		
			 Total   
			 1995 40 50 
			 1996 50 50 
			 1997 50 50 
			 1998 30 40 
			 1999 30 30 
			 2000 50 50 
			 2001 50 50 
			
			 Qualified   
			 1995 40 40 
			 1996 40 50 
			 1997 40 50 
			 1998 30 30 
			 1999 30 30 
			 2000 40 40 
			 2001 40 40 
			
			 Unqualified   
			 1995 (30)— (30)— 
			 1996 10 10 
			 1997 10 10 
			 1998 10 10 
			 1999 (30)— (30)— 
			 2000 10 10 
			 2001 10 10 
		
	
	(29) Hillingdon HA does not employ any Therapeutic radiography staff
	(30) = five or less and greater than zero
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10
	2. Due to rounding totals may not equal the sum of component parts
	Source:
	Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Consultancy Vacancies (Cumbria)

Eric Martlew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the consultancy vacancies at the Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumbria hospitals, indicating how long each post has been vacant.

Jacqui Smith: Data relating to consultant vacancies in the former Carlisle Hospitals National Health Service Trust and the West Cumbria Healthcare NHS Trust are shown in the table. Data related to the trusts have been supplied as information relating to individual hospitals is not collected centrally. The trusts may not directly correspond to existing trusts due to mergers occurring after the vacancy survey was conducted. The vacancy is collected on the basis that it has been unfilled for three months or more.
	
		NHS vacancy survey, March 2001: Three month vacancy rates and numbers—Consultants
		
			   Three month vacancy rates (percentage) Number of three month vacancies 
		
		
			 England 3.0 670 
			 Northern and Yorkshire 3.6 110 
			 West Cumbria Healthcare NHS Trust 0.0 (31)— 
			 Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust 5.2 (31)— 
		
	
	(31) Figures based on less than 10 posts
	Notes:
	1. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March 2001 which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (whole-time equivalents)
	2. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the September 2000 medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (whole-time equivalent)
	3. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10
	4. Percentages rounded to one decimal place
	5. England totals include staff from special health authorities
	6. Totals may not equal sum of component parts due to rounding
	Source:
	NHS Vacancy Survey, March 2001

GP Consultations

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reasons underlay the decision to stop the practice of providing GP consultation automatically for those aged 75 years.

John Hutton: The services that general practitioners are required to provide for all their patients are set out in the Terms of Service, schedule 2 to the National Health Service General Medical Services Regulations 1992. There has been no change to paragraph 16 which states that patients over 75, as well as receiving the full range of general medical services (GMS), are entitled to an annual health check from their GPs. In personal medical services, GPs are required to perform services equivalent in scope to those provided in GMS.

Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects the Commission for Health Improvement to complete its investigation and to report on the backlog of ultrasound tests in Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he expects the Commission for Health Improvement to complete its clinical governance review of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: The Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) plans to publish its report of its clinical governance review of Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust by April 2002. It intends to publish the outcome of its investigation into radiology services at the same trust in the summer.
	CHI conducts routine clinical governance reviews into arrangements by NHS trusts for the purpose of monitoring and improving the quality of care. It may also carry out investigations into the management, provision or quality of health care.
	If, when carrying out a clinical governance review, a matter comes to CHI's notice which it considers should be the subject of an investigation, it may decide to carry one out. In the case of its review of Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust, CHI has made such a decision in the light of information brought to its attention about a backlog of ultrasound tests.

Benefit Downrating (Hospital Patients)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what administration costs fall to the NHS in connection with the downrating of benefits during stays in hospital.

John Hutton: It is the responsibility of individuals in receipt of social security benefits to notify their local Department for Work and Pensions office when they are admitted or discharged from hospital.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Nick Brown: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the Department for Work and Pensions departmental expenditure limit will be increased by £40,052,000 from £7,302,415,000 to £7,342,467,000 and the administration cost limit by £56,142,000 from £4,902,843,000 to £4,958,985,000. Within the DEL change the impact on resources and capital are set out in the table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Change 19,855 
			 New DEL 7,111,469 
			 Of which:  
			 Voted 6,084,747 
			 Non voted 1,026,722 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change 20,197 
			 New DEL 230,998 
			 Of which:  
			 Voted 148,071 
			 Non voted 82,927 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from:
	(i) a reduction of £53,000 (administration costs) due to a transfer to the Home Office for costs in connection with the evaluation of withdrawal of benefits for offenders in breach of community penalties.
	(ii) take up of end year flexibility entitlements (£7,100,000 of which £6,000,000 are administration costs) announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Table 6 of the 2000–01 Public Expenditure Outturn Paper (Cm 5243).
	(iii) a reduction of £220,000 (administration costs) due to a transfer to Lord Chancellor's Departments for costs associated with housing benefit and council tax benefit appeals.
	(iv) a reduction of £50,000 (administration costs) due to a transfer to Department of Social Development (Northern Ireland) towards the administration costs associated with winter fuel payments.
	(v) an increase in provision of £1,568,000 (administration costs) for the costs of administering allowance payments for work-based learning for adults in Scotland and Wales.
	(vi) a net increase of £1,691,000 (administration costs) due to a transfer from Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, for expenditure on New Deal for Communities (£1,631,000), reimbursement of salary costs of Department for Work and Pensions staff performing work on behalf of the Housing Corporation (£150,000) and a transfer £90,000 to Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions for implementation costs at the Rent Service.
	(vii) an increase of £16,548,000 (of which £8,548,000 are administration costs) due to a transfer from Department for Education and Skills for expenditure within the Disability Rights Commission (£1,000,000), the cost of the Labour Force Survey (£1,050,000), the cost of accommodation where they are the minor occupier (£963,000), costs associated with Basic Skills (£7,000,000), a contribution towards the administrative costs of procurement (£24,000), a call on the Restructuring Fund (£6,000,000) and a transfer for costs associated with hardship payments to young people who would normally be receiving bridging allowance (£511,000).
	(viii) an increase of £158,000 (other current) for the expenditure on EU Twinning funded projects.
	(ix) a reduction of £20,000 (administration costs) due to a transfer to the Scottish Executive for costs associated with European Social Fund Verification and Audit Team.
	(x) an increase of £9,517,000 (administration costs) from the Employment Development Fund for JobCentre Plus and New Deal for Disabled People.
	(xi) an increase of £1,000,000 (administration costs) as a result of a transfer from Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in connection with costs relating to the foot and mouth disease outbreak.
	(xii) a reduction in provision of £32,000 (other current) as a result of a transfer to the Scottish Executive for the Glasgow Coalition.
	(xiii) an increase of £1,095,000 as result of a transfer from Department of Health for the cost of collecting expenses associated with Road Traffic Accidents in England.
	(xiv) an increase of £13,704,000 (of which £12,991,000 are administration costs and £713,000 grants) for expenditure associated with services supplied by Department for Work and Pensions to other Government Departments on a repayment basis.
	(xv) an increase of £454,000 (of which £351,000 is administration costs and £103,000 other current) to correct an earlier transfer.
	(xvi) an increase of £28,242,000 (administration costs) as result of virement from other current/grants and an increase of £13,797,000 (capital) arising from virement from other current.
	(xvii) an increase in appropriation in aid of £26,202,000 (of which £14,518,000 are administration cost limit related).
	(xviii) an increase of £10,294,000 (other current) to reflect an increase in the number of secondments.
	(xix) a reduction of £2,900,000 (other current) as a result of a transfer to Annually Managed Expenditure.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from:
	(i) an increase of £6,400,000 (administration costs) from the Employment Development Fund for JobCentre Plus.
	(ii) An increase of £13,797,000 as a result of virement.
	All of these changes will either be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority

Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the quinquennial review of the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority.

Ian McCartney: I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Brian Davis, formerly Chief Executive of the Nationwide Building Society, to lead this review. He will assist the internal DWP team in undertaking a detailed examination of all OPRA's functions and management structures and will draw on the views and comments of key stakeholders.
	The review will also draw on the findings of the Simplification Review, being undertaken by Alan Pickering, which is looking at ways of simplifying the legislation underpinning the private pensions regulatory system.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been recorded since April 2001 of employers' (a) failure to set up a record of when they were due to pay contributions to personal pension schemes and (b) failure to pay such contributions on time; how many cases have been completed; and how much has been raised in fines.

Ian McCartney: holding answer 6 February 2002
	The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (Opra) has received reports as follows:
	71,117 voluntary reports of employers who have failed to set up a record of payment contributions
	128,965 reports of late payments. Many of these reports will relate to the same employer.
	The new arrangements for reporting late payment of contributions began in April 2001. Opra's prime objective is to educate employers about their new responsibilities. Only when that fails does Opra consider sanctions. To date, Opra has written to over 35,000 employers. Opra has identified 100 employers who appear to be in serious breach and these cases will be considered for sanctions.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list for (a) each age after 60 and (b) each sex the number claiming state basic retirement pension in the last year for which figures are available.

Ian McCartney: The information requested is not available. Such information as is available is set out in the table:
	
		Number of men and women receiving a basic state retirement pension at 31 March 2001, by single year age -- Thousand
		
			  Age Female Male 
		
		
			 All 6,880.1 4,079.9 
			 60 220.1 — 
			 61 250.6 — 
			 62 260.7 — 
			 63 268.3 — 
			 64 273.4 — 
			 65 280.2 259.9 
			 66 278.4 265.1 
			 67 271.5 255.4 
			 68 271.1 251.0 
			 69 277.0 252.0 
			 70 283.8 247.9 
			 71 272.0 237.5 
			 72 265.1 222.2 
			 73 255.8 210.0 
			 74 258.8 205.2 
			 75 250.6 196.5 
			 76 240.0 179.6 
			 77 239.1 167.1 
			 78 230.4 163.4 
			 79 231.0 152.7 
			 80 233.4 145.9 
			 81 200.9 123.7 
			 82 141.0 80.8 
			 83 125.2 70.1 
			 84 139.3 72.6 
			 85 129.4 63.0 
			 86 125.7 57.0 
			 87 111.8 47.0 
			 88 93.8 39.4 
			 89 80.8 30.4 
			 90 68.3 21.2 
			 91 57.6 17.0 
			 92 46.7 13.1 
			 93 37.1 9.5 
			 94 28.8 7.2 
			 95 22.4 4.8 
			 96 15.7 3.0 
			 97 11.5 2.4 
			 98 9.5 1.7 
			 99 6.1 1.3 
			 100+ 17.0 3.3 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures have been rounded to the nearest hundred.
	Source:
	Figures are taken from a 5 per cent. sample of the Pensions Strategy
	Computer System as at 31 March 2001.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many members of occupational pensions schemes were (a) contracted out and (b) contracted in to the state pension scheme in each of the last five years.

Ian McCartney: Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	
		
			  1991 1995 
		
		
			 Contracted out 9.7 9.0 
			 Contracted in 1.0 1.3 
			 Total 10.7 10.3 
		
	
	Note:
	All numbers are in millions
	Source:
	Government Actuary's Department "Occupational Pension Schemes 1991 and 1995".

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his statement of 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 665, on pensions and benefits, if he will make a statement on his assessment of the reasons for the decline in the number of (a) defined benefit and (b) defined contribution occupational pension schemes since the mid 1960s.

Ian McCartney: The main factors contributing to the long-term decline in both the membership and number of occupational schemes are complex, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions told the House on 4 February 2002, Official Report, column 665. Because of that last year the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions asked Alan Pickering to conduct a wide-ranging review of the regulatory burden that is placed on pensions schemes. The review is due to report in the summer.

Pensions

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what publicity he plans in order to advise the general public of the implications of the equalisation of state retirement pension ages from 2010.

Ian McCartney: Changes to the state pension age for women affect all women born after 5 April 1950, and the Government are committed to informing women about the changes.
	The changes continue to be publicised as part of the Department for Work and Pensions' marketing campaign on pensions education for people of working age. Information is also included in relevant pensions leaflets (including a specific leaflet on pensions for women) and on the Department's website. The website also features an interactive calculator where women can type in their date of birth to find out their state pension age and the date they will reach that. The Department's state pension forecast letters and the accompanying leaflet also show the recipient's state pension age and explain who is affected by the changes to the state pension age for women.

Disability Benefits

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has (a) to introduce a one-stop shop service for access to disability benefits and services provided by his Department and (b) to encourage local authorities to adopt a similar approach in relation to their services.

Nick Brown: This Government are committed to transform public services to make them more convenient and accessible. From April this year, JobCentre Plus and the Pension Service will take over from the Employment Service and the Benefits Agency. JobCentre Plus will provide work related and benefit related services to customers of working age through a national network of integrated JobCentre Plus offices. Customers will be able to access the full range of disability benefits through JobCentre Plus offices. The Pension Service will provide a national network, working with local authorities, voluntary organisations and others to provide a service for today's and tomorrow's pensioners.
	An important initiative, which will help improve access to services including disability benefits for people over 60, is Care Direct, which is being piloted jointly by the Department of Health, Department for Work and Pensions and six local authorities. A key aim of Care Direct is to provide older people with a single gateway to get information about, and access to social care, health, housing and benefits, including disability benefits. The pilots are examining in a practical way, how central government, local government and the voluntary sector can work together to improve access to services.
	The six local authorities piloting Care Direct are now operational and will be evaluated later this year.

Disability Benefits

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many young people aged 0 to 16 are in receipt of a disability benefit; and what percentage of households in which a young person is in receipt of such a benefit have an income of less than 60 per cent. of the median household income.

Maria Eagle: Such information as is available is as follows:
	At 31 August 2001, about 243,300 people aged 16 or under in Great Britain were receiving disability living allowance. The latest available estimates, which relate to 1999–00, indicate that the proportion of this group of young people who were living in households with below 60 per cent. of median income was 11 per cent. on a 'Before Housing Costs' basis, or 14 per cent. 'After Housing Costs'.
	The Government have introduced several measures from April 2001 to help families with disabled children. The higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance has been extended to severely disabled children aged three or four, providing extra help to their families of £38.65 a week. In addition, the disabled child premium in the income-related benefits has been increased to £30 a week—£7.40 more than the normal uprating. Finally, the new disability income guarantee helps 33,000 families with severely disabled children, providing an extra £11.05 a week for each disabled child.
	Notes:
	1. The number of young people aged 0 to 16 in receipt of DLA is the latest information available, and is based on a 5 per cent. sample of disability living allowance (DLA) administrative records. The figure given is rounded to the nearest hundred.
	2. Estimates relating to the percentage of individuals living in households with below 60 per cent. of median income have been taken from the "Households Below Average Income" (HBAI) series which is derived from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) data set. The FRS does not include Northern Ireland, and 1999–00 is the latest year for which data is available.
	3. HBAI estimates are sample counts that have been adjusted for non-response using multipurpose grossing factors that control for region, council tax band and a number of other demographic variables. Estimates are subject to both sampling error and variability in non-response. Percentages are given to the nearest whole percent.
	4. HBAI estimates have been presented on both a before and after housing costs basis to take into account variations in housing costs as is standard HBAI practice. No adjustment has been to household disposable income as used in HBAI to take into account any additional costs that may be incurred due to the illness or disability in question.

Benefit Downrating (Hospital Patients)

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the annual costs to his Department were in each of the last three years of administering the downrating of benefits during hospital stays.

Ian McCartney: The Benefit Agency's administration costs are published in the Benefits Agency annual report and accounts 2000–01, copies of which are available in the Library. The costs are not broken down to the detail required, but the current estimated staff costs for administering these rules is around £0.5 million. The information is not available for previous years.

Job Trials

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the new rules for job trials effective from 8 April.

Nick Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 8 January 2002, Official Report, columns 685–86W.

Winter Fuel Allowance

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in each of the last two years who were in receipt of the (a) middle and (b) higher care component of the disability living allowance in the (i) UK and (ii) London borough of Hillingdon were also eligible for the winter fuel allowance.

Ian McCartney: The number of disability living allowance recipients receiving the higher or middle rate care component who are aged 60 or over in Great Britain and Hillingdon are given in the tables. Such people will be eligible for a winter fuel payment unless one of the exclusions applies.
	
		Number of DLA recipients in Great Britain aged 60 or over -- Thousand
		
			 Year Higher rate care Middle rate care 
		
		
			 2000 132.4 183.6 
			 2001 147.7 199.6 
		
	
	
		Number of DLA recipients in Hillingdon aged 60 or over -- Thousand
		
			 Year Higher rate care Middle rate care 
		
		
			 2000 *0.3 0.6 
			 2001 *0.4 0.6 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred
	2. Figures are at 31 August each year
	3. Figures under 500 marked '*' are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should be used only as a guide to the current situation
	Source:
	ASD Information Centre: 5 per cent. data

Disability Discrimination Act

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the impact of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Maria Eagle: The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) has not yet been fully implemented but indications are that those parts of the DDA that are in force are proving to be effective and that disabled people are making use of it. Research indicates that awareness levels are increasing and changes are being made to employers' and service providers' policies and practices.

Parliamentary Questions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he intends to provide an answer to the question from the hon. Member for Isle of Wight of 19 November 2001 [Ref 16113].

Ian McCartney: I provided an answer to hon. Member's question on 28 January 2002, Official Report, column 47W.

Minimum Income Guarantee

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have been dealt with in each year by the Minimum Income Guarantee helpline; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: The information requested can be found in the table.
	
		Telephone calls dealt with by minimum income guarantee (MIG) claimline
		
			   Number 
		
		
			 2000(32) 630,083 
			 2001(32) 190,231 
			 2002(33) 15,453 
		
	
	(32) January to December
	(33) January only
	The MIG claim line has also processed a total of 408,508 freepost requests for a clerical MIG claim form since 29 March 2000.

Fair Trade

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to encourage participation by his Department in Fair Trade Fortnight from 4 to 17 March.

Ian McCartney: The Department obtains the majority of fair trade goods from outsourced services, for example catering. The Department does not require its suppliers to take part in specific events. However, we expect them to be ethical in their business dealings and would expect them to support fair trade events of this sort.

Television Sets

Tim Yeo: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many (a) integrated digital and (b) analogue television sets have been bought by his Department in each of the last 24 months; and if he will publish the guidance given to officials making decisions on television purchases.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 4 February 2002
	The Department does not record information about television purchase in the form requested. The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Benefit Fraud

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what monitoring has been done to ascertain the effect of human rights legislation on the efficiency of investigating benefit fraud; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department takes account of human rights legislation in the training, deployment and tasking of its fraud officers.
	Policy and organisational changes both inside and outside the Department have improved its efficiency in investigating benefit fraud. For example, the Professional Standards Unit undertakes an independent inspection of the standard of surveillance applications across the Department and the Department is subject to independent inspection by the Office of the Surveillance Commissioner.
	It is not possible to identify separately the improvements in efficiency that are due specifically to human rights legislation.

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the average weekly payment of housing benefit in each region and nation to tenants of (a) local authority tenants, (b) housing association tenants and (c) private tenants using the quarterly 100 per cent. counts taken on the last day of August (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Malcolm Wicks: The available information is in the tables.
	
		Average weekly housing benefit: by region and tenure, August 1999 -- £ per week
		
			   Local authority tenants Registered social landlord tenants(34) Private tenants 
		
		
			 Great Britain 39.00 53.00 60.30 
			 North East 33.00 47.30 50.20 
			 North West 37.50 48.70 53.30 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 31.70 54.70 49.80 
			 East Midlands 34.90 50.40 46.80 
			 West Midlands 37.00 49.20 54.80 
			 East 40.30 53.60 59.10 
			 London 55.50 67.70 86.10 
			 South East 43.30 56.30 66.90 
			 South West 39.10 49.40 56.20 
			 England 40.00 54.90 61.40 
			 Wales 36.80 45.00 50.30 
			 Scotland 34.40 38.80 54.10 
		
	
	
		Average Weekly Housing Benefit: by region and tenure—August 2000 -- £ per week
		
			   Local authority tenants Registered social landlord tenants(34) Private tenants 
		
		
			 Great Britain 41.10 54.50 62.00 
			 North East 35.20 48.00 51.40 
			 North West 39.70 49.10 54.90 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 34.00 55.80 51.10 
			 East Midlands 37.10 50.40 48.90 
			 West Midlands 38.80 49.40 56.40 
			 East 42.90 54.80 60.90 
			 London 58.00 71.50 90.40 
			 South East 45.80 57.70 69.40 
			 South West 41.00 50.80 58.20 
			 England 42.30 56.20 63.20 
			 Wales 38.80 47.30 51.40 
			 Scotland 35.80 40.80 55.50 
		
	
	
		Average weekly housing benefit: by region and tenure—August 2001 -- £ per week
		
			   Local authority tenants Registered social landlord tenants(34) Private tenants 
		
		
			 Great Britain 44.00 57.20 65.30 
			 North East 37.30 47.40 53.70 
			 North West 42.00 51.90 57.10 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 37.20 57.10 53.40 
			 East Midlands 39.80 52.70 51.90 
			 West Midlands 41.60 50.70 59.90 
			 East 45.40 58.30 63.90 
			 London 62.10 76.30 98.70 
			 South East 49.30 61.10 73.70 
			 South West 43.00 53.90 61.50 
			 England 45.50 58.60 66.60 
			 Wales 41.00 50.80 53.80 
			 Scotland 37.50 45.20 59.00 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures for housing benefit paid to registered social landlord tenants include housing association and non-housing association accommodation. Separate data on housing benefit paid to housing association tenants only are not collected.
	2. The data refer to recipients of housing benefit which may be a single person, a member of a couple or a member of a family.
	3. Average amounts have been rounded to the nearest ten pence.
	4. Figures for authorities who have failed to respond have been estimated.
	5. The figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.
	Source:
	Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System. Quarterly 100 per cent. caseload count taken in August of each year.

Public Service Agreement

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if proposals for public service agreement targets for the reduction of sickness absence rates were discussed and agreed with the Cabinet Office by June 1999, as referred to on page 22 of the 2001 departmental report.

Ian McCartney: Yes.

Child Support Agency

David Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what impact he expects the reforms of the working of the Child Support Agency will have on (a) the time taken to assess new claims and (b) the time devoted to pursuing non-compliant fathers.

Malcolm Wicks: The new child support system will be straightforward and easy to understand. The simpler method for making a maintenance calculation will take less time, allowing the Child Support Agency more time to ensure their clients are compliant.

Habitual Residence Test

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what action he has taken as a consequence of the European Court judgment of 25 February 1999 in the case of Swaddling, with special reference to British nationals returning to Britain from South Africa;
	(2)  what plans he has to review the habitual residence test.

Malcolm Wicks: In its judgment in the Swaddling case, the European Court of Justice made it clear that people returning from a European member state to re-establish ties in the United Kingdom can be treated as habitually resident on their return.
	Following this judgment we reviewed the habitual residence test and decided to extend this important principle to people returning from any country overseas to re-establish ties here. These measures have resulted in fairer access to income-related benefits, while ensuring security against possible abuse of the benefits system by those with no real links to the United Kingdom.
	We keep all our policies under review but have no current plans to change the habitual residence test.

Jobcentre Plus

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to ensure that non-screened areas in Jobcentre Plus offices will be staffed by those who volunteer for the position.

Nick Brown: Jobcentre Plus will be delivered by our staff in a predominantly unscreened environment. Detailed staffing arrangements are a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus and his managers.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to change the Office of Water Services departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Margaret Beckett: The Ofwat DEL will be reduced by £2,000 from £35,000 to £33,000 and the administration costs limits will be decreased by £302,000 from £11,846,000 to £11,544,000. With the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Resources Capital 
		
		
			 Change -302 300 
			 New DEL -567 600 
			 Of which:   
			 Voted -567 600 
			 Non-voted (34)— (34)— 
		
	
	(34) Not applicable
	The £302,000 reduction in the resource element of the DEL arises from the transfer of £2,000 resources to the Cabinet Office for the fast stream recruitment and a transfer to a capital of £300,000.
	The increase of £300,000 in the capital element of the DEL arises from an investment in the development financial model for the periodic review. This will be used in the next review of prices and will be shared with the industry.
	There has been a change in accounting policy for OFWAT treatment of VAT. The previous accounting policy meant that VAT was Cfered. The new accounting policy is that the Department now accounts, net of VAT. This has no impact on the DEL.There will be a reduction in consolidated fund extra receipts of £135,000.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Paul Farrelly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to change the departmental expenditure limit and administration costs limit for 2001–02.

Margaret Beckett: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' DEL will be increased by £368,615,000 from £2,590,774,000 to £2,959,389,000, and the administration costs limit will be increased by £149,998,000 from £503,649,000 to £653,647,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 Resource  
			 Change +359,167 
			 New DEL 2,443,809 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 1,452,453 
			 Non-voted 991,356 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Change +9,448 
			 New DEL 515,580 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 435,281 
			 Non-voted 80,299 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from: (i) a draw down of £335,900,000 from the DEL Reserve for various FMD related expenditure, (ii) a reduction of £11,300,000 in expenditure on the Factortame litigation, (iii) a take-up of £8,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund, (iv) a take-up of £271,000 from the Invest to Save Budget, (v) a transfer from DfES of £500,000 for the school milk scheme, (vi) various MOG transfers from DTLR for £6,683,000, (vii) a transfer from DTLR of £40,908,000 for the Rural Development Agency, (viii) transfers from various OGDs of £3,176,000 for the Energy Efficiency Best Practice measure, (ix) two transfers from HMC&E for £94,000, (x) a net transfer of £41,000 to the DTLR for work by the MCA, (xi) a transfer to NAWAD of £40,000 for the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme, (xii) a transfer to DTLR of £30,000 for sea bed rehabilitation, (xiii) a transfer to SEERAD of £6,300,000 for the British Waterways Board, (xiv) a transfer to DFID of £2,000,000 for the Environment Know-How Fund, (xv) a transfer of £345,000 to the Highways Agency for canal work, plus, (xvi) a reduction of £8,317,000 in the DEL resource budget stemming from an adjustment in the Winter Supplementary.
	The change in the capital element of the DEL arises from: (i) a take-up of £65,000 from the Invest to Save budget, (ii) a transfer to SEERAD of £4,233,000 for the British Waterways Board, (iii) a transfer of £487,000 from DTLR for emissions projects, (iv) a take-up of £700,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund, plus, (v) an increase of £12,429,000 in the DEL capital budget stemming from an adjustment in the Winter Supplementary.
	There will also be a net switch of £21,875,000 from non-estimate funds on to the estimate.
	Increases will be offset by inter-departmental transfers and charged to the DEL Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Phil Sawford: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to change the Forestry Commission's departmental expenditure limit for 2001–02.

Elliot Morley: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the Forestry Commission's DEL will be reduced by £4,644,000 from £69,809,000 to £65,165,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 Resources  
			 Changes -4,644 
			 New DEL 65,165 
			 of which:  
			 Voted 62,512 
			 Non-voted 2,653 
			   
			 Capital  
			 Changes No changes 
			 New DEL — 
			 Of which:  
			 Voted — 
			 Non-voted — 
		
	
	The change in the resource element of the DEL arises from the winding up of the Forestry Commission Pension Scheme (FCPS) after 30 November 2001 and the transfer of its future liabilities to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS). The £4,644,000 reduction is the unused element of the net expenditure of the FCPS included in the Main Estimate.

Flood and Coastal Defence

Gillian Merron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will report on the outcome of the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I am pleased to announce that the report "Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review—Report to Ministers by the Review Steering Group" has been published today along with a consultation document seeking views on the steering group's recommendations and conclusions and how these might be taken forward. I am placing copies in the Library of the House.
	The steering group's report assessed a number of options for change including additional sources of funding and a broad-based regional model to provide a single funding stream. Suggestions for short-term changes include giving the Environment Agency responsibility for all watercourses that present a significant flood risk and on combining and consolidating capital grant and revenue support grant to the agency, possibly in the form of central grant allocations.
	Elsewhere, the report recommends continued reliance on the existing flood management strategic framework to monitor achievement of the Government's policies and priorities.
	The Government have agreed to consult on the recommendations in the report. This provides a unique opportunity to consider provision of the flood and coastal defence service from first principles and I look forward to receiving the views of interested parties. I will keep Parliament informed of developments.

Ofwat

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action her Department is taking to ensure that Ofwat improves its serviceability criteria.

Michael Meacher: The Government continue to work with the Office of Water Services (Ofwat) the quality regulators and the water industry to take forward discussions on serviceability and asset maintenance.
	Ofwat develops measures of companies' serviceability to customers. Ofwat is reviewing its measures of the serviceability of water and sewerage company assets. A consultation paper on improved serviceability indicators was issued in November 2001. The consultation period ended on 8 February 2002. Ofwat will also consult on its approach to capital maintenance in the spring.
	In its consultation paper on the approach to the periodic review of price limits for 2005–10, to be published in October 2002, Ofwat will also set out how it proposes to take account of serviceability and capital maintenance.

Water Sports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Environment Agency is taking to encourage more access agreements to moving water for canoeists in England and Wales.

Alun Michael: The agency has produced a guidance booklet "Agreeing Access to water for Canoeing (July 1999)", which sets out the background to property and access rights and how to move forward in the development of access agreements. The guidance is provided free of charge to interested parties. The agency will also respond to requests for assistance in arranging access agreements.

Sand Dredging (Erosion)

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent guidelines she has issued to protect sand beaches from excessive erosion caused by the actions of the sand dredging industry.

Sally Keeble: I have been asked to reply.
	Draft policy guidance on the extraction of sand and gravel from the English sea bed was published for public consultation in February 2001. This explains the existing requirement for a coastal impact study to be undertaken as part of the application procedure to obtain a licence to dredge for minerals. These studies need to consider, among other matters, the potential for the extraction activity to cause coastal erosion. If this suggests unavoidable risk of coastal erosion, the application is refused.
	The National Assembly for Wales is responsible for dredging in Welsh waters.